If you're a student, you might get help with your childcare costs. This could come 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 straight to your childcare provider.
For students 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.
See Childcare Grant on GOV.UK.
For students aged 19 or over who claim Disability Living Allowance
You are likely to get an Advanced Learner Loan Bursary fund. 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. They may or may not ask you to pay it back.
For more details and to apply, contact your learning provider's 'student support' service. See also Advanced Learner Loan Bursary fund on GOV.UK.
For students 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 Learner Support on GOV.UK.
To learn about level 3 qualifications see What qualification levels mean on GOV.UK. For Care to Learn see Care to Learn on 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 get up to 15 hours of childcare a week. See 2 year old childcare funding: government 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 old funding.
For students who work and study
You may qualify for additional schemes. This includes 15 or 30 hours for working parents, Tax Free Childcare or Universal Credit childcare costs.
See 0 to 16 year olds: Childcare funding for working parents
For help to identify what you can get, fill out a short form on the Childcare Choices website on GOV.UK.
Find childcare that fits your needs
See our guide to Childcare options for under 5's.
It 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).