Help paying for childcare

In this section

• Funded childcare for 2-year-olds
• Funded childcare for 3 and 4-year-olds
• 30-hour childcare
• Tax-free childcare for 0 to 11-year-olds
• Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP)
• Other financial support with the costs of childcare
• Which support is best for you?

Funded childcare for 2-year-olds

There are 2 different government schemes that provide parents of 2-year-olds with funded hours of childcare: 

• funded childcare for children whose parents are receiving some form of government support
• funded childcare for working families with 2-year-olds.

Funded childcare for children whose parents are receiving some form of government support 

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Your 2-year-old child could get funded childcare (up to 570 hours per year) if you receive any of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Universal Credit, and your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax (not including benefit payments)
• the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit (or both), and your household income is £16,190 a year or less before tax
• the Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit).

Apply for funded childcare for 2-year-olds (receiving government support)

Please note: If your application is not successful but you believe you meet the eligibility criteria above, please email fis@hillingdon.gov.uk.

2-year-olds can also get funded childcare if they:

• are looked after by a local authority
• have an Education, Health and Care Plan
• get Disability Living Allowance
• have left care under an adoption order, special guardianship order or a child arrangements order
• you are a non-EEA citizen who cannot claim benefits.

If you want to apply under any of these criteria, email the Families' Information Service at fis@hillingdon.gov.uk.

Funded childcare for working families with 2-year-olds

From April 2024, 15 hours funded childcare will be available to eligible working families of 2-year-olds  (from the term after the child's 2nd birthday). 

You (and any partner) must each expect to earn (on average) at least £183 per week (equal to 16 hours at the national  minimum or living wage).  

If you (or your partner) are on maternity, paternity or adoption leave, or you're unable to work because you are disabled or have caring responsibilities, you could still be eligible. 

You will not qualify for funded childcare if you or your partner each individually expect to earn £100,000 adjusted net income or more. 

You must apply for a code before the term you want to start using the funded childcare. 

Read more about childcare support for working families

In order to get a better understanding of what the demand might be for the expanded early years entitlement and wraparound childcare, we're asking parents and carers to complete our online survey.

Funded childcare for 3 and 4-year-olds

All 3 and 4-year-olds are entitled to funded part-time childcare/early education from the term following their 3rd birthday.

A part-time place is up to 15 hours a week for 38 weeks per year in a registered setting, which meet the standards set for good quality education.

Search local childcare providers

30-hour childcare for 3 and 4-year-olds

Working families may be eligible to receive 30 hours of free childcare for their 3 or 4-year-old child (from the term after their child's 3rd birthday).

You, and any partner, must each expect to earn (on average) at least £183 per week (equal to 16 hours at the national minimum or living wage).  

If you, or your partner, are on maternity, paternity or adoption leave, or you're unable to work because you are disabled or have caring responsibilities, you could still be eligible. 

You can not get 30 hours of childcare if you or your partner  each individually expect to earn £100,000 adjusted net income or more. 

Read more about 30-hour childcare

Tax-free childcare for 0 to 11-year-olds

This government scheme helps eligible working families save on their childcare costs for children aged 0 to 11-year-olds  (or 16-years-old if disabled).

Eligible working parents and carers can receive up to £500 every 3 months (up to £2,000 a year per child). If your child has a disability, you can receive to £1,000 every 3 months (up to £4,000 a year per child). 

You can use it to pay for childcare including:  

• childminders 
• nurseries, playgroups and pre-schools 
• holiday play schemes 
• before and after-school clubs.

Am I eligible?

• You, and any partner, must be over 16-years-old and each expect to earn an average of £183 per week (equal to 16 hours at the national minimum or living wage) during 3 months.
• If you, or your partner, are on maternity, paternity or adoption leave, or you're unable to work because you have a disability or have caring responsibilities, you could still be eligible. 
• You can't get tax-free childcare if either you, or your partner, individually expect to earn £100,000 or more.

Only a parent/carer can set up a tax-free childcare account. Money can be deposited into the account by parents, friends, family and employers up to a maximum of £8,000 each year.

Find out more about tax-free childcare, including how to set you a tax free childcare account

Other financial support with the costs of childcare

• Universal Credit childcare costs - for working families claiming Universal Credit, who aren't receiving Tax-Free Childcare (up to 85% of your childcare costs for children under 17).
• Care to Learn - if you are aged under 20, Care to Learn can help with your childcare costs, including the cost of travel, while you are learning - whether at school, college or with a work-based training provider. Childcare must be registered and costs are paid direct to the childcare provider. Travel costs are paid direct to the learning or training provider. 
• Learner Support -each further education college has a learner support fund to help students who are facing financial hardship. It can help with a variety of costs. including registered childcare. Apply directly to your learning provider (for example, a college) - they each have their own application process.
• Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) - additional government funding to enhance early education for eligible children. Your child's early education provision (childminder, nursery or pre-school could receive up to £353 a year for your child to support their individual learning. Please note: If your child is eligible for EYPP, they will also be eligible for help with school uniforms. This is managed by schools. Please contact your child's school directly for more information. 
• Disability Access Funding (DAF) - for children who are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance and access funded childcare entitlements. It is paid directly to the childcare provider to help with the children's education and support.  

Which support is best for you?

Which scheme you're better off with depends on your situation. You cannot get tax-free childcare at the same time as claiming Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Universal Credit or childcare vouchers.

Use Gov.uk's childcare calculator to work out which type of support is best for you.