​Help with Childcare Costs

Childcare is one of the biggest expenses for a family, however, there is financial help available.

3 and 4 Year Olds – 15 hours Childcare (Universal Hours). ​

All 3 and 4-year-olds are entitled to receive 15 hours per week of funded childcare, over no less than 38 weeks of the year (maximum of 570 hours per year), starting from the term after the child’s third birthday.  This is known as the Universal Funding. 

3 and 4 Year Olds – 30 Hours Childcare for Working Parents (Extended Hours)

Three and four year olds of Working Parents may be eligible for an extra 15 hours funded childcare per week, known as the Extended Hours. 

If families are eligible for this funding, the child can claim the 15 Universal Hours plus the 15 Extended Hours per week, totalling 30 hours per week (maximum of 1140 hours per year). Parents need to apply for an eligibility code via www.childcarechoice.gov.uk the term before they want to start to claim the funded hours.

Eligibility criteria is detailed below in the ‘Criteria for Working Parents’ section.

9-23 month olds – 15 Hours Childcare for Working Parents (Expanded Hours)

Working parents with children aged between 9 months – 23 months, may be eligible for 15 hours funded childcare per week from the term after the child turns 9 months old.  This is known as the Expanded Hours. Parents need to apply for an eligibility code via www.childcarechoice.gov.uk the term before they want to start to claim the funded hours.

Criteria for Working Parents

If you (and your partner, if you have one) are: 

• ​in work - or getting parental leave, sick leave or annual leave
  
• each earning at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week – which is currently *£183 per week (*note, this amount increases annually). 

This earnings limit does not apply if you are self-employed and started your business less than 12 months ago. 

You are not eligible if: 

• your child does not usually live with you
• either you or your partner has a taxable income over £100,000
• you’re from outside the EEA and your UK residence card says you cannot access public funds 

FOSTER CARERS

If you are a Foster Carer, you cannot complete an online application. You will need to discuss funded childcare with your Social Worker and the Virtual School and make an application through the Local Authority. Please follow this link for more information Halton Virtual School: Early Years Funding (myvirtualschool.org)

For Parents of 2 year olds receiving some additional forms of government support

If parents do not meet the criteria for working parents funding for 2 year olds, some 2 year olds may be eligible for up to 15 hours per week of free early education  and childcare but parents/carers need to meet certain criteria.  

If you would like to apply for this funding please complete:

• Online referral form

Please include your National Insurance Number and your own date of birth, as this information is needed to check your eligibility. 

Tax-Free Childcare

Tax-Free Childcare is a new Government scheme to help working families with their childcare costs.

Parents can open online childcare accounts to pay their registered childcare providers directly. 

For every £8 parents pay in to these accounts​, the Government will add £2, and the total amount in the account can only be spent on childcare. Parents can receive up to £2,000 in Government support per child, per year, or £4,000 for disabled children.  

Universal Credit 

You may be able to claim Universal Credit if you’re on a low income or out of work. If you are eligible, you may be able to claim back up to 85% of your childcare costs.
You don’t need to do anything if you’re already claiming benefits. 

Childcare Element of Working Tax Credit 

On top of a basic amount of Working Tax Credit,  you can get help paying for childcare if it’s provided by an Ofsted registered childcare provider or a home care worker working for a registered home care agency.  Check your eligibility here.

Other additional grants or support available to parents

Care to learn​

Childcare grant

Shared parental leave and pay

Discretionary learner support