Help with childcare costs

Other options could be available to parents to help with the cost of childcare depending on the age of children, criteria apply. 

• Tax Free Childcare – for children aged between 0-11 years (0-16 for disabled children). For every £8 put in, the government will top up by £2 - for working parents earning on average £167 per week.
• Tax credits for childcare – for families with children under 16. Parents could get help with up to 70% of their childcare costs.
• Universal Credit for childcare - for families with children under 17. Parents could get help with up to 85% of childcare costs.

Support while you learn: 

• Care to Learn – for parents aged under 20 years attending sixth form or school.
• Discretionary learners Support – for parents aged 19 or over. Studying for NVQ, BTEC or PGCE.
• Childcare Grant – parents in full time education such as university who have children under 15 years old (or under 17 years for child with special needs). 

More information on help with childcare costs and how to apply can be found on the government website Best Start in Life.