You can now find a straightforward explanation of all government childcare support on the new Childcare Choices website.
Using the website’s Childcare Calculator, you can quickly find out which of the offers are available to you and choose what works best for your family:
What is available through the childcare service?
15 hours free childcare for 2 Year olds (Terrific for Twos)
- For families in England, receiving some forms of support
- With 2-year-old children
- 15 hours of free childcare or early education a week
Here you can find more details on 15 hours free childcare for 2 year olds.
15 hours free childcare for 3 & 4 Year olds
- For all families in England
- With 3 and 4-year-old children
- 15 hours of free childcare or early education a week
30 hours free childcare
- For working families in England
- With 3 and 4-year-old children
- An extra 15 hours a week of free childcare - so 30 hours in all
Tax-free childcare
- For working families, including the self-employed, in the UK
- With children under 12 (or under 17 if disabled)
- For every £8 you pay in, the government will add an extra £2, up to £2,000 per child
Tax credits for childcare
- For working families, in the UK
- With children under 16 (or under 17 if disabled)
- 70% of childcare costs, up to a cap
Universal credit for childcare
- For working families claiming Universal Credit, in England, Scotland and Wales
- With children under 16
- 85% of eligible childcare costs, up to a cap
Childcare vouchers
- For working families, in the UK
- With children under 16 (or under 17 if disabled)
- Up to £933 a year in tax and National Insurance savings
Support while you study
- Weekly payments from Care to Learn if you’re at school or sixth-form college
- Help through your college if you’re in further education
- A weekly grant if you’re in full-time higher education