If you're a student, you may be able to get help with your childcare costs from the government, your school, college, university, or training provider.
If you're aged 19 and under and attend a registered school, sixth form or college
Care to Learn may be able to help you with childcare costs while you study. Childcare payments will go straight to your childcare provider.
If you're in full time higher education
You may be eligible for a Childcare Grant provided by Student Finance England. You do not need to pay back the grant, and you can get it in addition to your other student finance.
If you're a student aged 19 or over and claim Disability Living Allowance
You're likely to get an Advanced Learner Loan Bursary fund, which you may or may not need to pay back. This can help pay for things like childcare, equipment, classroom assistance and rent.
If you qualify, the payment will usually go straight to you. Alternatively, you can ask for the payment to go to someone else, like your childcare provider.
For more details and to apply, contact your learning provider's 'student support' service. See also Advanced Learner Loan Bursary fund on GOV.UK
If you're a student aged 19 or over in further education and struggling financially
Learner Support can help if you're studying for a qualification at level 3 or below, like at college. It can help with costs like travel, so you can attend your course or study. This support is for expenses not covered by course fees or Care to Learn, if you qualify for that.
For more details and to apply, contact your learning provider's 'student support' service.
See also:
If you're a student with a child aged 2, 3 or 4
If you have a 2 year old child and receive some form of government support, you may get up to 15 hours of childcare a week. See 2 year olds: 15 hours for families receiving support
If you have a 3 or 4 year old, you can get up to 15 hours of childcare a week. See 3 and 4 year olds: 15 hours for all families
If you work and study
You may qualify for additional schemes, if you and your partner (if you have one) are both working.
This includes:
- 15 or 30 hours: 9 months old to under 5 year olds
- Tax Free Childcare: 0 to 11 year olds (or up to 16 if disabled)
- Universal Credit Childcare: 0 to under 17 year olds
See 0 to 16 year olds: Childcare funding for working families
Use the Eligibility checker on the Best Start in Life website to find out which of these childcare schemes you can access now and in the future.
Find childcare to suit you
Being aware of what's out there, and what help is available, can help you find the right childcare.
If you have a child under 5 years old
See our guide to Childcare options for under 5's, which includes information on:
- the different types of childcare providers
- key points before securing childcare
- childcare and funding for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
If you have a child of school age
See our guide Childcare options for school children, which includes information on:
- school breakfast and after school clubs
- free after school and holiday clubs, including for children and young people with SEND
- safeguarding arrangements for holiday clubs