You might be entitled to some free childcare, so it’s worth checking if you qualify to make sure you don’t miss out. Use the childcare calculatorOpens in a new window on GOV.UK to find out how much help you might get.

If you are studying at college or university and having a baby, you might qualify for additional student finance. Find out more in our guide Grants and benefits if you're studying and have a baby.

How much you can get depends on where you live. You can use these free hours at registered:

• nurseries and nursery classes

• playgroups and pre-schools

• childminders 

• holiday schemes, breakfast and after school clubs.

You can use Tax-Free Childcare along with free childcare hours if you're eligible for both. But if you claim Universal Credit, you cannot get Tax-Free Childcare at the same time. See section on What is Tax-Free Childcare? to find out more.

The amount of free childcare your child can get depends on their age and your circumstances.

If you are a working parent, you may be able to get up to a maximum of 30 hours of free childcare a week for children aged nine months up to four years old. 

You can usually get this if you (and your partner, if you have one) are: 

• working and earning at least the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the National Living Wage or National Minimum Wage 

• starting a new job 

• on sick leave or annual leave 

• on shared parental, maternity, paternity or adoption leave. 

You will not be eligible if either you or your partner has an adjusted net income over £100,000. If this applies, your three-or four-year-old will still be entitled to the universal 15 hours. 

Every child aged three or four in England is entitled to 15 hours of free childcare a week. You do not need to meet any income or work requirements. You just need to live in England.

Your two-year-old may qualify if any of the following apply:

• you have a low income

• your child has a disability

• your child needs extra support for other personal reasons. 

If you are in a couple and one of you is working (and meets the rules above), but the other cannot work, you may still qualify for 30 hours of free childcare if the non-working partner receives any of the following;

• Incapacity Benefit

• Severe Disablement Allowance

• Carer's Allowance 

• Limited Capability for Work Benefit

• Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance.

Check if you're eligible for free childcareOpens in a new window on GOV.UK.

You can apply online by setting up a childcare account and find Ofsted registered providersOpens in a new window on GOV.UK.

Some councils have a list of childcare providers that offer the additional hours on their websites, or you can ask your childcare provider directly. 

If you live in a Flying Start area, some two and three-year-olds can get free part-time childcare for 2.5 hours a day, five days a week for 39 weeks a year. Find your local Flying Start serviceOpens in a new window

You could claim up to 30 hours of combined nursery education and funded childcare a week, for up to 48 weeks of the year, under the Childcare offer for WalesOpens in a new window

Some three and four-year-olds can get an extra 20 hours of free childcare, making it a total of 30 hours a week for 48 weeks a year.

• Both parents must be working, or if you’re a single parent, you need to be working.

• You must live permanently in Wales

• Over the next three months, you and your partner (if you have one) must each expect to earn at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week on average

• Each parent must earn less than £100,000 a year.

You can’t carry over unused hours to another week. Many childcare providers spread the hours across the year, so you might get an average of 22 hours a week instead of 30. Ask your childcare provider how they manage the hours.

You can apply for free childcare through your local Family Information Service. For more details, see Child Care Information WalesOpens in a new window

Some councils have a list of approved childcare providers, You can check if a provider is approved on Care Inspectorate WalesOpens in a new window

In Scotland, all children aged three to five can get up to:

• 22 hours a week if spread across the whole year

• 30 hours a week if only used during school term time.

Some two-year-olds might also be able to get free early learning and childcare if: 

• you receive certain benefits

• you or your child have experience of being in care.

You can apply and find out more about free childcare and education in ScotlandOpens in a new window on Parent Club.

Northern Ireland, children can get at least 12.5 hours of free pre-school education each week for 38 weeks in the year before they start primary school.

This is increasing to 22.5 hours. Ask your childcare provider if they’ll be offering the extra hours and when it will start.

Find out more about free preschool education in Northern IrelandOpens in a new window on nidirect.

If you need help with claiming free childcare in Northern Ireland or have questions, you can call 028 9267 8200 or visit Employers For ChildcareOpens in a new window

To find local childcare providers, see familysupport NIOpens in a new window

If you’re receiving Tax-Free Childcare for children not yet in primary school, you might be eligible to get an extra 15% for childcare. Find out more about the expansion of pre-school education provision in Northern IrelandOpens in a new window on education-ni.gov.uk.

If your child has a disability or special educational needs (SEN), you may be able to get extra help with the cost of childcare.  

All Ofsted-registered childcare providers in England, like nurseries, pre-schools, and childminders, must make reasonable adjustments to support children with SEN. Some settings may also be able to offer additional funding or support to help with your child’s needs.

It’s worth speaking to your childcare provider to find out what support they offer and if there’s any extra help with costs.

• In England, Coram has a helpful and detailed guide for parents that explains your rights and optionsOpens in a new window

• If you live in Wales, your local Family Information Service can give youOpens in a new window more details 

• In Scotland, you can find support and guidanceOpens in a new window on gov.scot

• In Northern Ireland, visit nidirect for information on childcare for children with disabilitiesOpens in a new window

Universal Credit is a benefit for people in, and out of, work. It replaces six existing benefits, including the help with childcare provided by Working Tax Credit.

Working families who qualify for Universal Credit can claim back up to 85% of their monthly childcare costs.

Find out more in our guide Universal Credit explained.
 

Usually you and/or your partner will need to:

• be working (it doesn’t matter how many hours you or your partner work), or

• have a job offer
• or if one of you is unable to work due to ill-health or caring responsibilities 

You can get:

• £1071.09 a month for one child

• £1836.16 a month for two or more children
• £736.06 for each additional child.

You can only claim if your childcare is provided by a government registered or approved childcare providerOpens in a new window

Once you've paid your childcare costs, add them to your Universal Credit online accountOpens in a new window as soon as possible. You need to do this before the end of the following assessment period.

You’ll need to upload proof of payment, such as an invoice, receipt or bank statement. Make sure it clearly shows:

• your childcare provider's name and registration number

• the dates of childcare 

• how much you paid and when.

If you pay termly, you can still claim, but Universal Credit will usually pay you back in monthly instalments as your childcare takes place.

If you're unsure how your payments will work with your assessment periods, message your work coach through your online journal and they'll help you figure it out.

Find out how to help with childcare costs on Universal CreditOpens in a new window on GOV.UK.

If you cannot pay that upfront cost, you might be able to get help with that through the Flexible SupportOpens in a new window

If you have a job offer, you may be able to get help with childcare costs for the month before you start work.

You may also get help if you are increasing your working hours, for example moving from part-time to full-time work.

Speak to your work coach to find out what support is available to you.

You can also get help with childcare costs for at least a month after your job ends to keep your childcare going while you switch between jobs. Find out moreOpens in a new window on GOV.UK.

If you live in Northern Ireland and qualify for the childcare element of Universal Credit and other income-based benefits, you can apply for a non-repayable grant of up to £1,500 from the Adviser Discretion Fund (ADF). You can do this through a work coach at your local Jobs and Benefits centre. 

The grant will be paid directly in advance to a registered childcare provider. Any money given for childcare costs will count towards the £1,500 yearly limit for ADF awards. 

Find out more about the Adviser Discretion Fund (ADF)Opens in a new window on nidirect.

Tax-Free Childcare is a government scheme to help working parents with the cost of childcare in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

It can pay for:

• registered childminder, nanny, playscheme, nursery or club

• childminder or nanny with a registered childminder agency or childcare agency

• registered school

• home care worker working for a registered home care agency.

Your childcare provider must be signed up to the scheme before you can pay them and benefit from Tax-Free Childcare. Check with your childcare provider to see if they’re signed up.

You can use Tax-Free Childcare alongside free childcare hours, if you’re eligible for both. 

But you can’t use Tax-Free Childcare at the same time as:

• Universal Credit

• childcare vouchers.

If you’re already getting help with childcare costs through Universal Credit, opening a Tax-Free Childcare account will stop all your benefits payments, not just the childcare part. If you’re unsure whether using Tax-Free Childcare or your benefits would be better for you, speak to an independent benefits adviserOpens in a new window on Advice local.

To qualify, usually, one or both parents need to:

• be employed and have children under 12 years old (or under 17 if your child has a disability). After the child turns 11, they no longer qualify. Adopted children are eligible, but foster children are not

• earn at least the National Minimum Wage or Living WageOpens in a new window for an average of 16 hours per week

• have an adjusted net income of no more than £100,000 per year, per parent. Learn more about adjusted net incomeOpens in a new window on GOV.UK.

• be employed or self-employed. If you or your partner are on maternity, paternity, or adoption leave, you may still qualify. You can also apply if you start or return to work within 31 days.

If you’re caring for someone, you’re ill, or have a disability and can’t work, you can still qualify for a childcare account if one parent is working, and the other is unable to work and receives any of the following benefits:

• Carer’s Allowance

• New-style Employment and Support Allowance

• National insurance credits for incapacity or limited capability for work.

You can get up to £500 every three months (up to £2,000 a year) for each child to help with childcare costs. If your child has a disability, you can get up to £1,000 every three months (up to £4,000 a year).

With Tax- Free Childcare, you’ll set up an online account for your childOpens in a new window and add money to the account to use to pay your childcare provider. For every £8 you pay into this account, the government will add £2.

Other people, like grandparents or family friends, can also contribute to the account.

You can apply online by setting up a childcare accountOpens in a new window on GOV.UK.

Every three months, you’ll need to check and confirm you still qualify using your online childcare account. You’ll receive a reminder to do this.  

Even if your circumstances haven’t changed, simply confirm this. If your situation has changed, the government will recheck if you’re still eligible. 

Wraparound childcare is before and after school care for primary school children, usually from 8am to 6pm during term time. 

It can take place at school or at a nearby locations like a:

• community centre

• nursery, or 

• childminder.

This is different from out-of-school activities, or school clubs, which are less regular.

All parents in England with primary school-aged children can access wraparound childcare.

Contact your child’s school or your local Family Information ServiceOpens in a new window to see what’s available in your area.

Prices vary depending on the provider. You pay the provider directly. 

If you qualify, you can use Tax-Free Childcare or Universal Credit to help cover the costs. You might also get help with upfront costs. Check what support you can get using the childcare eligibility checkerOpens in a new window

The government is planning to fund free breakfast clubs in every primary school. The first 1,250 schools have been confirmed, and more details will be shared soon. For more information, see The Education HubOpens in a new window on GOV.UK.

Check if your child can get free school meals in England and find out how to apply in our guide Free school meals – eligibility and how to apply.

Some companies have their own nurseries, either at your workplace or at another location.

Your employer decides how much you’ll need to pay to use the workplace nursery.

Whether it’s free or at a discounted rate, it’s considered as a tax-free benefit of your job.

Check with your employer to see if they offer a workplace nursery. 

If you’re a grandparent or another relative looking after children while their parents are at work, you can get National Insurance credits. These credits can help you build up enough qualifying years for your State Pension.

You need 35 qualifying years to receive the full State Pension.

You can check your National Insurance recordOpens in a new window on GOV.UK.

These National Insurance credits are called Specified Adult Childcare credits, and you’ll need to apply for them.

To learn more about Specified Adult Childcare credits and how to applyOpens in a new window see GOV.UK.