Looking for childcare can not only be costly for parents but this can also be fairly complicated. Thousands of parents are missing out because they are not made aware of the various ways they can get help with childcare costs. Here are a few tips that could save you money when looking into your childcare options.
Don’t worry if your child isn’t 3 years old! This doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t be able to get any help. If your child is under 12 years old and you work full or part-time, you can claim Tax-Free Childcare which also applies if you are due to start work soon. This means for every £8 you pay into your Childcare Account, the government adds £2 which could amount to up to £2,000 of funding each year. If you are an unemployed parent or on a low income, you may be entitled to up to 70% of childcare costs with Tax Credit which may depend on how many children you have. If you or your partner are working and claiming Universal Credit you could get up to 85% of your childcare costs if you’re eligible which could be up to £646 each month for one child. As an unemployed parent, you may be entitled to up to 15 hours of free childcare. Take a look at the Online Childcare Calculator to see which option works best for you and your family.
Working part-time? You may still be able to get an extra 15 hours per week depending on your income. Although this is not based on the number of hours you work, you must be working more than 16 hours weekly. Those who do not get 30 hours of free childcare are likely to get Tax-Free Childcare too. Find out here if you are able to claim.
Already getting help with childcare costs? This doesn’t always mean you are limited to one funding option. You may be able to apply for more than one funding scheme at a time depending on your eligibility. Have a look at the below guide to see if you can apply for more than one scheme:
Providing happy, nurturing childcare for the hours you need, across over 30 nursery settings in Babbacombe, Plymouth, Bournemouth, Charminster, Copnor, Fawley, Gillingham, Corfe Mullen, Havant, Lakeside, Lymington, Taunton, Newport, Poole, Portsmouth, Salisbury, Southsea,
Wareham, Wimborne, Winchester, and Yeovil.
