Childcare funding can be a labyrinth of terms, dates, and income. Here is a quick breakdown of what childcare funding is available depending on your child’s age and your family’s income situation.
Children aged 0–1
Tax-Free Childcare is the earliest childcare funding available to families above a certain income. You (and your partner if you have one) have to expect to earn at least £1,976 each over the next 3 months. Tax-Free Childcare is applied as a ‘discount’ and you will have to set it up yourself. You can’t get it if you’re already claiming Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Universal Credit or childcare vouchers. Tax-Free Childcare can be used for children aged 0–11.
Check if you’re eligible and apply below on the Government website:
Children aged 2
To get 15 hours of free childcare for 2-year-olds, working families need to earn less. How much the family can earn depends on where they live, so check the detailed breakdown on the Government website here.
EYPP
Early years pupil premium (EYPP) is a special entitlement that some 2-year-olds can get so your childcarer can buy them additional materials and take them on extra trips, classes etc. The money is paid directly to your childcare provider (so your Koru Kids Early Educator), and will be used by them to support your child’s development and quality of care. If you’re entitled to 2-year-old funding your child is probably entitled to EYPP as well.
Children aged 3–4
All children in England are entitled to 15 hours of funded childcare per week from the first school term after their 3rd birthday. This funding is once again paid straight to your childcare provider, and they have to set it up. The funded hours are only during term time, but some childcare providers will let you split them up across the year instead, so please talk to them about what they can offer. Some children are entitled to a full 30 hours per week. Like with Tax-Free Childcare, you (and your partner if you have one) must earn a minimum income over the year. If you are entitled to Tax-Free Childcare and your child is aged 3 or 4, you are very likely entitled to 30 hours free childcare too.
Read more about 30 hours below:
Children aged 5–11
Tax-Free Childcare is the only standard childcare support for families from ages 5 and up. You (and your partner if you have one) have to expect to earn at least £1,976 each over the next 3 months. Tax-Free Childcare is applied as a ‘discount’ and you will have to set it up yourself. You can’t get it if you’re already claiming Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Universal Credit or childcare vouchers. Tax-Free Childcare can be used with registered childcare providers for children aged 0–11.
Read more and apply on the Government website below:
Children aged 0–15 — Student childcare grant
If you are a full-time, higher education student, and your child is under 15 (or under 17 with special educational needs), you could be entitled to a student grant to help pay for childcare. You can read more and get help applying here:
Children aged 0–17 — Additional support for children with disabilities
Children with special needs and disabilities are often entitled to additional financial support. This is quite complex and will differ depending on where you live and how old your child is, as well as what kind of support they need. You can read more about additional support for children with special needs or disabilities below.
We hope the above has given you a better idea of what you might be entitled to. If you’re still unsure and you are a family using a Koru Kids Home Nursery, please just email us so we can help you figure things out.
Want to use Tax-Free Childcare or funded hours with a registered childcare provider near you?
