Help with childcare costs

Childcare may be more affordable than you think.

There are a number of schemes and grants available to help cover the costs of your childcare. Please click on one of the following links for details.

Free early education for three and four year olds
Three and four year olds are entitled to 15 hours of free early education and care.

Free childcare for some two year olds
From September 2009, some two year olds will be able to access free childcare, with the aim of improving outcomes for children.

Help with childcare costs for working parents
Including tax credits, childcare vouchers and flexible working patterns.

Help with childcare costs for student parents
Includes funding available to parents studying towards further education (college) and higher education (university) qualifications. Schemes include Care to Learn, Childcare Grant, Adult Learning Grant, Parents' Learning Allowance and Discretionary Support Funds. There are also Professional and Career Development Loans available.

Help with childcare costs for parents of disabled children
Including Disability Living Allowance, Carer's Allowance, extra tax credits for disabled children and Direct Payments.

Want to know more?

Visit the Daycare Trust's paying for childcare website, which has lots of information on different ways to reduce your childcare bill. The Daycare Trust is a national charity working for families to get high quality and affordable childcare.

This page was last updated on 9 November 2011