Help with childcare costs
There are lots of different ways of reducing the cost of childcare. This page contains a summary of government support you may be able to receive.
The government's Childcare Choices website provides further information, and includes a useful eligibility checker so guidance is targeted at your particular situation.
The amount of support available is expanding significantly in 2024 and 2025. This will help many more families. In summary changes include:
- from April 2024, working parents of 2 year olds can access 15 hours per week of funded childcare
- from September 2024, working parents of children aged 9 months up to 3 years old can access 15 hours per week of funded childcare
- from September 2025, working parents of children aged 9 months up to 3 years old can access 30 hours per week of funded childcare
Current, and future, support:
For children from 9 months old
From September 2024, working families may be eligible to receive up to 15 hours funded childcare per week (38 weeks per year) until they turn 3.
You will need to apply for a code at www.childcarechoices.gov.uk and give this to your childcare provider. You can access a code between 12 May and 31 August to access the new support from 1 September.
From September 2025, most working parents of children aged 9 months will be able to access 30 hours per week free up until they start school.
See: free childcare for children aged 9 months to 2 years
For 2 year olds
2 year olds of working families
Many working families are now eligible to receive up to 15 hours funded childcare per week (38 weeks per year). This support was introduced in April 2024.
For working families this will increase to 30 hours per week from September 2025.
For more information, see free early education for 2 year olds.
2 year olds from families receiving additional government support
Some 2 year olds can get 15 hours per week of funded early education and childcare if their parents receive certain benefits, including income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) and Universal Credit.
To find out if you're eligible, see free early education for 2 year olds.
Other eligible 2 year olds
Your family may also be eligible to receive up to 15 hours funded childcare per week (38 weeks per year), if they:
- are looked after by a local authority
- get Disability Living Allowance
- have a current statement of special educational needs (SEN) or an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC)
- have left care under a special guardianship order, child arrangements order or an adoption order
For more details, please see free early education for 2 year olds.
For 3 and 4 year olds
All families are eligible to receive up to 15 hours funded childcare per week (38 weeks per year), the term after their child turns 3. Every one can get this and there's no plan to change this entitlement.
You will apply for this through your chosen nursery or childminder, who will submit a claim to the local authority on the parents behalf.
Working families however may be able to receive up to 30 hours funded childcare per week (38 weeks per year), instead of the standard 15 hours.
For these additional 15 hours you will need to apply for a code to give to your childcare provider.
For more information, please see 30 hours free childcare for 3 and 4 year olds.
Other support
You may also be eligible for support such as:
Tax-Free Childcare
This scheme can be used by many working parents. Your child must be 11 or under (or 16 if they are disabled) and usually live with you.
For every £8 paid by parents to a registered childcare provider via an online account, the government will provide a £2 top-up.
You can get up to £2000 per child per year towards childcare costs, or £4000 for disabled children. It can be used alongside the 15 / 30 hour childcare schemes also available.
For full eligibility information, and to apply, see GOV.UK: Tax-Free Childcare.
Universal Credit Childcare
If you're a working family who is also claiming Universal Credit you may be able to get more financial help for childcare costs for children under 17.
Universal Credit is replacing a number of existing benefits, including tax credits. If you are already receiving tax credits, you don't need to do anything now.
For more information, see Childcare Choices.
If you're studying
- You could get weekly payments through Care to Learn if you're under 20 at the start of a publicly-funded course, such as a school or sixth form.
- You can apply for Discretionary Learner Support to pay for childcare if you're 19 or over and in further education, for example if you're studying for an NVQ, BTEC or PGCE.
- If you're in full-time higher education you may be eligible for a Childcare Grant. This can help with childcare costs for children under 15 (or under 17 if they have special needs).
Cost of living support
See our Cost of living pages.
Flexible leave
You could ask if you could work flexibly in your current job. Your employer has a duty to consider your request seriously.
For advice please read ACAS: Flexible working.
Shared Parental Leave
You and your partner may be able to get Shared Parental Leave if you're having a baby or adopting a child. You need to share the leave in the first year after your child is born or placed with your family.
For more guidance on this, and other possible help, see GOV.UK: Financial help if you have children.
More information
For full guidance on government support to reduce the cost of childcare please visit:
There's also useful information available at GOV.UK: Financial help if you have children.