Level of Support

Recipient Group

Date Available

For Further Information

 Two-Year-Old Funding

Up to 570 hours of free early education or childcare per year, usually taken as 15 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year.

Families receiving relevant benefits (see further information), if child is "looked after", has an Educational Health & Care Plan or is receiving Disability Living Allowance.

Present

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Three & Four-Year-Old Funding

Up to 570 hours of free early education or childcare per year, usually taken as 15 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year.

All families.

Present

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Extended Entitlement (30 hours)

An additional 570 hours in addition to the 3 & 4-year-old entitlement.

Available for families where both parents are working (or the sole parent is working in a lone-parent family), and each parent earns the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the national minimum or living wage, and earns less than £100,000 a year.

September 2017

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Childcare Element of

Working Tax Credit

70% of childcare costs up to a maximum of £175 per week for 1 child or £300 per week for 2 or more children. Families receiving housing or council tax benefit get extra help, amounting to about 96% of costs in England.

Nearly 400,000 low income working families.

Present

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Universal Credit

85% of childcare costs, with same maximum levels as Working Tax Credit, although no extra help for those receiving housing benefit.

Low income working parents

Present

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Childcare Vouchers

Worth up to £55 per week for basic rate tax-payers.

Working parents, but not self-employed and usually excludes those receiving tax credits.

Presently available, but will not accept new applicants after April 2018.

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Tax Free Childcare

20% of childcare costs up to a maximum of £2,000 per year. Families of children with SEND receive help up to a maximum of £4,000 per year.

Working parents not in receipt of tax credits/Universal Credit whose gross household income is higher than a specified minimum threshold but less than £100,000 per parent.

From early 2017

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Care to Learn

£175 in London and £160 per week outside

Parents under 20 at school or in further education

Presently available

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Discretionary Learner Support

Discretionary

Parents over 20 in further education

Presently available

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Childcare Grant

£155.24 a week for 1 child. Up to £266.15 a week for 2 or more children

Parents in full-time higher education who are eligible for student finance

Presently available

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