Help paying for your childcare

Government help with childcare costs for parents. Whether you have toddlers or teens, you could get support. You can get this help if you are in work or unemployed.

Check if you’re eligible for Tax-Free Childcare, how to apply and how to pay your childcare provider.

It can be hard to find weekend childminders who are Ofsted-registered, but CYF can only reimburse Ofsted registered providers. This website sorts providers by postcode and shows a calendar of availability, so you can see who is open at the weekend and call them.

You can also make your own profile explaining your requirements and providers may apply to you.

CodeYourFuture can help trainees who have support needs.

Funding towards childcare is one of the ways we can help. Our trainee expenses policy gives more details.

Early education and childcare for children is funded by the UK Government for children in England. The child’s age will determine which scheme applies and whether childcare is universally available or only available to eligible children.  

Government funded early education and childcare is not classed as a public fund for immigration purposes, so can be accessed by a child regardless of their immigration status. However, some schemes have eligibility requirements relating to the immigration status of the parent(s) and so may not be available to all families.

Use this calculator to find out how much you could get towards approved childcare, including:

• free childcare for children aged between 2 and 4
• help with childcare costs if your child is under 16 (or under 17 and disabled)