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Early years education

All three and four year olds are entitled to twelve-and-a-half hours of free early years education a week, for 38 weeks a year, with a 'registered provider' like a school, nursery or playgroup, regardless of income or circumstances.

Some large employers provide registered early years education at the workplace. You can also use a registered childminder if they're part of an approved childminding network.

• Search for a registered early education provider in your area Opens new window
• Your questions answered about free early education by Sure Start Opens new window

Tax Credits

Child Tax Credit

Child Tax Credit is an income-related allowance for parents and carers of children or young people who are still in full-time education. Nine out of ten families with children qualify for Child Tax Credit.

Working Tax Credit

If you're working more than 16 hours a week and you're on a low income, you may be able to get Working Tax Credit too.

The Working Tax Credit includes a specific element to support the cost of registered or approved childcare for working parents. The childcare element can help with up to 80 per cent of your eligible childcare costs.

There are limits on the weekly costs you can claim. If you pay childcare for:

Time off and flexible working

Time off ('parental leave')

If you're a working parent, you can take up to 13 weeks parental leave for each child until their fifth birthday (you get more than this if you have a disabled child). Your employer doesn't have to pay you when you take this leave, but they might as part of your employment package.

• More about parental leave

Flexible working

Flexible working lets you ask your employer for a new working pattern to help you care for your child. You have a right to request a flexible working pattern if you've got a child aged under six or a disabled child under 18. Your employer has to consider your request seriously.

To have the right to ask for flexible working, you must:

You'll need to fill in an application form when you apply for flexible working. You can only make one application a year.

• Download a flexible working application form Opens new window
• More about flexible working (employment section)

Job Grant

Job Grant is a tax free lump sum you may get when you start full-time work (at least 16 hours a week). You'll get it if you (and your partner if you have one) are aged 25 or over and you've been getting one or more of these benefits for at least 26 weeks before you started work:

For lone parents and couples with children the grant is £250. (If you or your partner are under 25 years, different rules may apply.)

• More information about Job Grants (money, tax and benefits section)

How child maintenance affects your benefits

If you (or your current partner who you live with) are claiming Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, the first £20 per week of any maintenance you receive will not affect those benefits. This arrangement has been extended across the Child Support Agency’s old and new schemes, and also applies if you arrange maintenance through a private agreement.

It is your responsibility to tell Jobcentre Plus about any maintenance you receive.

Find out more about maintenance and benefits:

• Child Maintenance Options Opens new window
• Contact Jobcentre Plus Opens new window

Getting help from your employer

Many employers now offer their employees help to pay for childcare, this can include:

• paying you cash to pay for childcare
• paying the childcare fees directly
• paying the child’s school fees

Should your employer offer any of the above, you will be liable for tax and national insurance contributions on whatever aid is given. There are other types of childcare support your employer could provide however, without you having to pay tax or national insurance contributions. These are:

• childcare vouchers
• directly contracted childcare
• workplace nurseries

For more information on the different types of help you could get from your employer, download the leaflet below.

• Download 'Paying for childcare - getting help from your employer' (PDF document, 995 KB) Opens new window

More useful links

• Childcare Act guarantees a sure start for future
• Information and advice for jobseekers (employment section)
• Working and paying tax (money, tax and benefits section)
• Search for childcare and nurseries Opens new window