Childcare Support

• For working families, including the self-employed, in the UK
• Earning under £100k and at least £183 per week (equal to 16 hours at the National Minimum or Living Wage) each
• Who aren't receiving Tax Credits, Universal Credit or childcare vouchers
• With children aged 0-11 (or 0-16 if disabled)
• For every £8 paid into an online account, the government will add an extra £2, up to £2,000per child per year (or up to £4,000 per child if disabled)
• To continue getting the government top-up, you must confirm your details are up to date every 3 months.
• Your childcare provider(s) must sign up to receive Tax-Free Childcare payments.

Find out if you are eligible

Apply for Tax-Free Childcare

You can get up to 85% of childcare costs paid back to you.

The maximum amount a month is: 

• £1,014.63 for one child 
• £1,739.37 for two or more children 

You might also be able to get help with your initial upfront childcare costs.

You need to be either:

• In paid work
• Starting a job in the next month

If you live with a partner, you both need to be in paid work, unless your partner cannot look after your children.

Your childcare must be with registered childcare providers. 

Learn more about Universal Credit Childcare

The amount of free childcare you can get depends on:

• your child’s age and circumstances
• whether you’re working (employed, self-employed, or a director)
• your income (and your partner’s income, if you have one)
• your immigration status

Find out more about eligibility

You need to apply the term before you want to take up a place. For example, if you want to take up a place for your child from September, you need to apply during the summer term (1 April-31 August)

Watch video on how to apply

If eligible, you'll get an online childcare account and a childcare code.

Apply here

Give the code in your childcare account to your provider(s) along with your National Insurance number and your child's date of birth.

Your childcare provider will check your code is valid - you can't take up your place without it.

You must confirm your details are up to date every 3 months or your code will expire.

Children in families with a low income or in receipt of certain benefits are entitled to 15 funded hours of childcare or early years education

• • The funded hours are up to 570 hours a year.
  • This is 15 hours over 38 weeks or fewer hours per week for more weeks in the year.
  • This can be taken at registered settings or childcare providers or cross more than one setting.

Find out more

Frequently asked questions

15 hours

All children aged 3 and 4 are able to access 15 funded hours of childcare or early years education.

• The funded hours are up to 570 hours a year.
• This is 15 hours over 38 weeks or fewer hours per week for more weeks in the year.
• This can be taken at registered settings or childcare providers or across more than one setting.

In addition to the 15 universal hours for parents of 3-4 year olds, parents may also be entitled to an additional 15 hours of funded childcare or early years education. 

The extended entitlement (30 hours) is an additional 15 hours for eligible working parents. The two combined total 30 hours a week during term time, or stretched over the year at fewer hours per week, up to a maximum of 1,140 hours per year. 

Check you are eligible and apply

We're expanding wraparound care for parents of primary school children under the Childcare Reforms programme. Starting September 2024, there will be more wraparound childcare options.

By September 2026, all parents in England with primary school children should have access to wraparound childcare from 8am before school starts until 6pm after school ends, Monday to Friday during term time. This can be provided by your child’s school or another local provider, either on or off the school site. Your child's school can provide details on current availability.

How do I access wraparound childcare?

Talk to your child’s school to see what wraparound childcare they have right now.

If they don’t offer wraparound childcare, you can ask them to consider setting this up. To do this, write a letter or email to the school.

How do I pay for wraparound childcare?

Providers will set their own fees for wraparound care, so costs may be different. You will pay the provider directly for your child's place.

Many parents can get financial help. If you qualify, you might use Tax-Free Childcare or Universal Credit Childcare to help with the costs. Use the childcare eligibility checker to see what support you can get.