Paying for childcare

Raising children can be costly, do you know families can be entitled to financial help? Childcare costs can sometimes seem insurmountable, but there are a number of ways that you can explore to help with meeting those costs.

Your Family Information Service can provide you with information about help with childcare costs, benefits and programmes, as well as Universal Credit when it is introduced. You can check to see if your childcare provider is registered using our childcare search or by contacting the Family Information Service.

We can offer advice and assistance with:

• Child benefit
• Tax credits
• Universal Credit
• Salary sacrifice schemes and childcare vouchers
• Healthy start scheme
• Guardians allowance
• Free school meals
• Free school travel
• Disability Living Allowance
• Direct payment if you have a disabled child
• Early years education
• Flying Start
• Assisted places