If you are a student, you may be able to receive support with your childcare costs from the government, your school, sixth form, college, university or training provider.
For students aged 19 and under who 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 directly to your childcare provider and can be used to help pay for childcare related costs.
For more information and to make an application visit Care to Learn – GOV.UK.
For students in full time higher education
You may be eligible for a Childcare Grant provided by Student Finance England, to help you with your childcare costs. The grant does not need to be paid back and can be provided on top of your other student finance.
For more information and to view the eligibility criteria visit Childcare Grant – GOV.UK.
For students aged 19 or over who claim Disability Living Allowance
You are likely to be eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan Bursary fund which can help for pay for things such as childcare, equipment, classroom assistance, rent.
If eligible you will normally be paid directly, or you can request for this be paid to someone else such as your childcare provider. You may or may not be asked to pay it back.
For further information and to make an application, discuss this with your learning provider’s ‘student support’ service. Further information can also be found by visiting Advanced Learner Loan Bursary fund – GOV.UK.
For students aged 19 or over in further education and struggling financially
Learner Support may be able to help you if you are studying for a qualification at level 3 or below such as at college. It can support with costs such as travel to enable you to attend your course or study, that are not covered by course fees or Care to Learn if you are eligible for this.
For further information and to make an application, discuss this with your learning provider’s ‘student support’ service. Further information can also be found by visiting Learner Support – GOV.UK.
If you want to know what level 3 qualifications are visit What qualification levels mean on GOV.UK, and for Care to Learn visit Care to Learn – GOV.UK.
For students 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 be eligible to receive up to 15 hours of childcare a week. For more information visit 2 year old funding.
If you have a 3 or 4 year old, you will be eligible for up to 15 hours of childcare a week. For more information visit 3 and 4 year old funding.
For students who work and study
You may be eligible for additional schemes including, 15 or 30 hours childcare for working families, Tax Free Childcare or Universal Credit Childcare Costs. To help you identify what you can get use the eligibility checker on the Childcare Choices website – GOV.UK.