Childcare funding options
Childcare support can help your child explore, learn and make friends while giving you the support you need. Find out what you could be entitled to, it may be more than you think.
15 hours childcare for all families in England for children aged 3 to 4 years
For all children aged 3 to 4 years
15 hours of childcare or early education for 38 weeks (up to 570 hours per year), that you can use flexibly with one or more providers.
Some providers will allow you to ‘stretch’ the hours over up to 52 weeks, using fewer hours per week.
15 hours of childcare is available for all families in England.
It can be taken used with:
- Nurseries, schools, childminders, and sessional providers (e.g. playgroups)
- Children become eligible from 1 January, 1 April or 1 September following your child's 3rd birthday.
Learn more about 15 hours of funding.
15 hours early learning for families of 2 year olds in England, receiving some additional forms of support
For children aged 2 years receiving some additional forms of support.
15 hours of early education for 38 weeks (up to 570 hours per year), that you can use flexibly with one or more providers.
Some families with children aged 2 years old may be eligible for 15 hours of early education for 38 weeks of the year. To find out if you are eligible for the offer, please complete the online application form.
Some providers will allow you to ‘stretch’ the hours over up to 52 weeks, using fewer hours per week.
To be able to take up 15 hours of early education for your two-year-old you must meet the eligibility criteria.
It can be taken used with:
- Nurseries, schools, childminders, and sessional providers (e.g. playgroups)
- Children become eligible from 1 January, 1 April or 1 September following your child’s 2nd birthday.
30 hours childcare for eligible working families in England available for children aged 9 months to 4 years
For children aged between 9 months and 4 years old.
Up to 30 hours of funded childcare support over 38 weeks of the year.
This can be used flexibly with one or more childcare providers.
Some providers will allow you to ‘stretch’ the hours over 52 weeks, using fewer hours per week.
To be able to take up 30 hours of working families you must meet the eligibility criteria.
Additional funding options available
Universal credit and childcare
For working families claiming Universal Credit with children under 17. Claim back up to 85% of eligible childcare costs.
You might be able to use Universal Credit Childcare with one of the other childcare costs schemes.
Tax Free Childcare
For working families, including the self-employed, in the UK with children aged 0-11 (or 0-16 if disabled).
Disability Access Fund
If your child as a SEN diagnosis and you are in receipt of DLA, your child’s early years provider could get £910 or more per year to help with their education and support.
This will be paid direct to your early years provider.
Find out more information about the Disability Access Fund.
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Care to learn
The Care to Learn scheme offers financial help with childcare and travel costs to parents under the age of 20 so that they can get back into studying or gain qualifications. Care to Learn offers financial help with any kind of study or learning, as long as it is publicly funded.
The money provided is to cover childcare while you learn, study, are on placement or are travelling to and from your childcare provider.
You can also claim financial help for:
- childcare registration fees
- childcare tasters
- additional childcare fees during holidays; and
- travel costs for taking your child to the childcare provider.
It's up to you what you decide to learn or study. You can choose: the subjects and/or courses that suit you, and your place of study, whether it be a college or a work place.
To get an application form and guidance notes please email the Student Bursary Support Service on [javascript protected email address] or call 0800 121 8989.