Paying for Childcare

Paying for childcare

Depending upon your circumstances, you may be able to get help to pay for childcare (see below).  Contact us for more in-depth help and guidance. 

We can:

• Talk you through the options available
• Provide you with an estimation of how much Tax Credit / Childcare Element of Working Tax Credit you may be elegible for
• Provide guidance as to whether childcare vouchers or tax credits would best suit your circumstances
• Give you information about how to apply
• Help you to think through your next steps

General information on paying for childcare is also available on the Daycare Trust's website.  This includes a tax credit estimator.

Free childcare places:

Three and four year olds are entitled to 12 and a half hours free early learning and childcare per week in Cambridgeshire (15 from September 2010) and 15 hours a week in Peterborough for a certain number of weeks per year when using childcare providers who are registered to provide the Early Years Foundation Stage.  This is sometimes known as Nursery Education Funding. 

For more information on free places in Peterborough view this downloadable leaflet.

For more information on free places in Cambridgeshire view this downloadable leaflet.

Some two-year-olds are also entitled to a free place.  Contact the service for more information.

Tax Credits: These are payments from the government.  You may qualify as follows:

Child Tax Credit: If you have at least one child who normally lives with you.
Working Tax Credit: If you work a certain number of hours, but earn low wages.
Childcare Element of Working Tax Credit: If you use registered childcare.

Contact the tax credit helpline on 0845 300 3900 or visit their website www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/taxcredits

Employer supported childcare: If you're working and pay for childcare your employer may be able to help you with some of your childcare costs.  This could be through vouchers, directly contracted childcare or providing workplace childcare.

Free Childcare for Training and Learning for Work: This supports certain adults aged 20 years and over by paying for childcare and travel costs while they are undertaking training or learning leading to work.  Household income is assessed. 

• If you're a parent visit http://www.direct.gov.uk/freechildcareforlearning.
• If  you're a provider visit http://www.lsc.gov.uk/providers/moneytolearn.
  

Care to Learn: If you’re a young parent (under 20) Care to Learn can help pay for your childcare and related travel costs while you’re learning.  For more information visit the Care to Learn website.