You can get funded childcare for your children with government help. There are different offers depending on the age of your children, and your personal circumstances.
Tax-free childcare
Who’s it for?
Children: aged 0 to 11, or up to age 16 if they’re disabled.
Eligibility criteria
Families: working and earning at least £125 per week, including the self-employed.
What do I get?
For every £8 you pay in, the government will add an extra £2, up to £2,000 per child per year (or £4,000 for disabled children).
15 hours childcare – for children aged 2
Who’s it for?
Children: aged 2.
Eligibility criteria
Families: getting certain benefits.
What do I get?
You get 15 hours per week of funded childcare for 38 weeks (a total of 570 hours per year).
In Middlesbrough, it’s called ‘Achieving 2 Year Olds’.
15 hours childcare – for all families
Who’s it for?
Children: aged 3 and 4.
Eligibility criteria
Families: all families.
What do I get?
You get 15 hours per week of funded childcare for 38 weeks (a total of 570 hours per year) starting from the term after your child’s third birthday.
15 and 30 hours childcare – for working families
Who’s it for?
Children: aged between 9 months and 4 years old.
Eligibility criteria
Families: working and earning the equivalent of at least 16 hours per week at the National Minimum Wage. You won’t be eligible if you or your partner earn £100,000 or more.
What do I get?
- Children aged 9 months to 2 years old – up to 15 hours of early education over 38 weeks of the year
- Children aged 3 to 4 years old – up to 30 hours of early education over 38 weeks of the year
Find out what you can get
The government’s Childcare Choices website will show you which options are available to you, depending on:
- whether or not you’re working
- if you’re working, how much you earn
- whether you live with a partner
- whether or not your partner is working
- if your partner is working, how much they earn
