If you are eligible for 15 or 30 hours for working parents and receive a code from HMRC, please get this code checked with a childcare provider as soon as possible. This is to ensure your code is valid and you can take up your funded place. You will also need to renew your code every 3 months through HMRC.
9 to 23 months old
Working parents with a child aged 9 to 23 months may be able to receive up to 15 hours of childcare a week. This will extend to 30 hours from September 2025. Applications are made through HMRC.
For more information see 9 to 23 month old childcare funding.
2 year olds
Parents of 2 year olds receiving some form of government support may be able to receive up to 15 hours of childcare a week. Applications are made through us.
Working parents of 2 year olds may also be able to receive up to 15 hours of childcare a week. This will extend to 30 hours from September 2025. Applications are made through HMRC.
For more information see 2 year old childcare funding.
3 and 4 year olds
All parents of 3 and 4 year olds are eligible to receive up to 15 hours of childcare a week.
Working parents of 3 and 4 year olds may be able to receive an additional 15 hours, totalling up to 30 hours. Applications are made through HMRC.
For more information see 3 and 4 year old childcare funding.
Under 5s: Additional childcare schemes for working parents
If you have a child under five and are eligible for 15 or 30 hours funding, you may be able to claim Tax Free Childcare or Universal Credit childcare. This can be used on top of your funded hours to help pay for additional hours or services from your childcare provider. See below for more information.
Tax-Free Childcare for working parents with a child under 11 years or 16 for disabled children
Working parents may be able to can receive Tax-Free Childcare, through an online childcare account which HMRC contribute to. It can also be used to pay childcare providers including out of school clubs and play schemes, who have also signed up with HMRC to be part of the scheme. For more information see Tax-Free Childcare on GOV.UK.
If you get Universal Credit, you will not be able to get Tax-Free Childcare. Instead, you may be eligible for Universal Credit childcare costs.
Universal Credit childcare for working parents with a child aged 16 and under
If you are working and claim Universal Credit, you may be eligible for Universal Credit childcare costs to get up to 85 percent of your childcare costs covered. You can get this until the 31 August after your child's 16th birthday. For more information see Universal Credit childcare costs on GOV.UK.
Tax Credits have been replaced by Universal Credit for most people. If you currently claim Tax Credits, see Tax credits: work out your childcare costs on GOV.UK.
Students
If you are a student, you may be able to receive support with your childcare costs from the government, your school, your sixth form, your college, your university or your training provider. For more information see Help with childcare costs while you study.
Childcare vouchers and directly contracted childcare
'Childcare Vouchers' and 'Directly Contracted Childcare' have now closed to new applicants. If you previously joined one of these schemes and need further support see Help paying for childcare: Childcare vouchers and other employer schemes on GOV.UK.
Help identifying what you can get and when
Use the eligibility checker on the Childcare Choices website to find out what childcare schemes you can access now, and in the future, including 15 or 30 hours, Tax-Free Childcare or Universal Credit childcare costs.
You will also be able sign up to receive updates on how and when to apply for support with your childcare costs.
Your childcare options
To find childcare that meets your needs, including information on childcare and funding for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) see our guide to Childcare options for under 5's.