Free childcare in Plymouth

The Government can help with childcare costs for parents. Whether you have toddlers or teens, you could get support.

Tax-Free Childcare - children between 0 and 11 (or 16 if disabled)

• For working families, including the self-employed
• Earning under £100k and an average of £167 per week (equal to 16 hours at the National Minimum or Living Wage) each over three months
• Who aren't receiving Tax Credits, Universal Credit or childcare vouchers
• With children aged 0-11 (or 0-16 if disabled)
• For every £8 you pay into an online account, the government will add an extra £2, up to £2,000 per child per year

Find out more about Tax-Free Childcare

15 hours free childcare - 2 year old children

• For families in England, receiving some forms of support with 2-year-old children
• 15 hours of free childcare or early education for 38 weeks
• To be able to take up 15 hours of free childcare for your two-year-old, you or your child must meet the eligibility criteria. Please visit GOV.UK for further information.
• A total of 570 hours per year, that you can use flexibly with one or more childcare provider
• Some providers will allow you  to 'stretch' the hours over 52 weeks, using fewer hours per week

Find out more about 15 hours free childcare (2 year old children)

15 hours free childcare - 3 and 4 year old children

• For all families in England with 3 and 4-year-old children
• 15 hours of free childcare or early education for 38 weeks
• A total of 570 hours per year, that you can use flexibly with one or more childcare provider
• Some providers will allow you  to 'stretch' the hours over 52 weeks, using fewer hours per week

Find out more about 15 hours free childcare (3 and 4 year old children)

30 hours free childcare - 3 and 4 year old children

• For working families with 3 and 4-year-old children
• 30 hours of free childcare or early education for 38 weeks
• A total of 1,140 hours per year, that you can use flexibly with one or more
  childcare provider
• Some providers will allow you  to 'stretch' the hours over 52 weeks, using fewer hours per week

Find out more about 30 hours free childcare (3 and 4 year old children)

Tax credits for childcare - children between 0 and 15 (or 16 if disabled)

• For working families with children under 16 (or under 17 if disabled)
• 70% of childcare costs, up to a cap
• If you cannot make a new claim for Tax Credits, you may be able to apply for Universal Credit instead.

Find out more about tax free credits for childcare

Universal Credit for childcare - children between 0 and 16

• For working families claiming Universal Credit with children under 17*
• Up to 85% of eligible childcare costs
• Who aren't receiving Tax-Free Childcare 

Find out more about Universal Credit for childcare

Support while your study

• Weekly payments from Care to Learn if you're at school or sixth-form college
• Help through your college if you're in further education
• A weekly grant if you're in full-time higher education

Find out more about support while you study

Plymouth's Local Offer is organised into four main categories covering the following age ranges:

• Early years (0 to 5 years old)
• Primary (5 to 11 years old)
• Secondary (11 to 18 years old)
• Preparing for adulthood

 Plymouth Local Offer homepage

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