Help with childcare costs

If you have a child aged 16 or under, and you (and your partner if you have one) are working, you may be able to get help from the government to reduce your childcare costs.

Depending on your child's age, you may be able to access one or two of the following schemes:

• Tax-Free Childcare or Universal Credit childcare costs and
• Up to 15 or 30 hours childcare a week, for children under 5

Please note:

If you or your partner are not able to work, you may still be able to get this.

These schemes must be used with a provider who has registered with the government to look after children. It includes registered:

• nurseries and childminders
• breakfast clubs, after school clubs, holiday clubs and play schemes

Tax-Free Childcare

Tax-Free Childcare is available to working parents who:

• do not get universal credit
• have children aged 11 or under, or 16 or under for children with disabilities.

You will not be able to get Tax-Free Childcare after 1 September after your child turns 11 years old, or 1 September after your child turns 16 years old if they are disabled.

How it works:

You will need to set up a childcare account with HMRC (if you don't already have one). For every £8 you put into the account, the government will add an extra £2. Parents can get up to £2,000 per year for children aged 11 or under, or £4,000 per year for disabled children aged 16 or under. If you have more than one child, you can get this for each of your children.

You will pay your childcare fees from your childcare account; however, your childcare provider must also be signed up to the Tax-Free Childcare scheme for you to access it through them.

See Tax-Free Childcare on GOV.UK .

Universal Credit childcare costs

Universal Credit childcare costs is available to working parents who:

• get universal credit
• have children aged 16 and under

You will not be able to get Universal Credit childcare costs after the 31 August after your child's 16^th birthday.

How it works:

You will need to pay for your childcare costs first, then report them back to Universal Credit who can pay up to 85% of your childcare costs back to you. This payment will be included in your total Universal Credit payment.

If you cannot pay the cost upfront for your childcare, you may be able to get help with this.

See Universal Credit childcare costs on GOV.UK .

Up to 15 or 30 hours

Up to 15 or 30 hours a week, is available to working parents who have a child under 5 years old. The number of hours you get depends on your child's age.

When your child can start their funded place

Your child can start from the term after they turn 9 months old.

For example, if they turn 9 months on or between 1 April and 31 August, they can start their funded place from 1 September. See table below for further clarification.

How many hours your child can get

Your child can get up to 15 hours a week from the term after they turn 9 months old, until the term after they turn 3 years old. This comes under the following funding types.

• 9 to 23 month old childcare funding
• 2 year old funding

Please note, this funding will extend to 30 hours in September 2025.

From the term after your child turns 3 years old, they can get up to 30 hours a week. This is available now under the:

• 3 and 4 year old funding

As long as you remain eligible for the funding, you can get the funding until your child starts school.

What to expect from the process

You will need to make an application through the government's GOV.UK website where you will be instructed to set up a childcare account. If you have been approved for the funding, you will receive a code which you need to take to your childcare provider as soon as possible who will confirm your code is valid and can organise your funded place. You will need to re-confirm your code every 3 months so you can continue to receive the hours.

Please note, your childcare provider may charge for items and services such as meals, nappies, trips and additional hours. Any charges should be agreed with you before you take up your funded place.

For more information

To learn more about how the 15 or 30 hours works in Hammersmith and Fulham see:

• 9 to 23 month old childcare funding
• 2 year old childcare funding
• 3 and 4 year old childcare funding

You can also go directly to Apply for free childcare if you are working on GOV.UK

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 guides:

• Childcare options for under 5's
• Childcare options for school children

Help identifying what you can get and when

To find out what childcare schemes you can access now, and in the future, you can use the eligibility checker on the Childcare Choices website

You will also be able sign up to receive updates on how and when to apply for support with your childcare costs.