Help with childcare costs

Financial Help with affording Childcare Costs

• Tax-Free Childcare
  You can get up to £500 every 3 months (up to £2,000 a year) for each of your children to help with the costs of childcare. This goes up to £1,000 every 3 months if a child is disabled (up to £4,000 a year). 

   

  If you get Tax-Free Childcare, you’ll set up an online childcare account for your child. For every £8 you pay into this account, the government will pay in £2 to use to pay your provider.

   

  You can get Tax-Free Childcare at the same time as The Childcare Offer for Wales if you’re eligible for both.

  You can use it to pay for approved childcare, for example:

  • childminders, nurseries and nannies
  • after school clubs and play schemes

   

  Your childcare provider must be signed up to the scheme before you can pay them and benefit from Tax-Free Childcare. Check with your provider to see if they’re signed up.

   

  If your child is disabled, you can use the extra Tax-Free Childcare money you get to help pay for extra hours of childcare. You can also use it to help pay your childcare provider so they can get specialist equipment for your child such as mobility aids. Talk to them about what equipment your child can get.

   

   

  For more information and eligibility:

  Tax-Free Childcare (Gov.UK)

• The Childcare Offer for Wales

  The Childcare Offer funds nursery education and childcare for 3 to 4 year olds, before they start full-time education. In the Vale of Glamorgan, it is made up of 12.5 hours per week in a school nursery and 17.5 hours per week of funding at a registered childcare provider in term time. Up to 30 hours per week of funding at a childcare provider in the school holidays, for three weeks per term (9 holiday weeks in total per year). A total of 48 weeks of funded childcare per year.  

    

  For more information please visit the Vale of Glamorgan Childcare Offer web page:

  The Childcare Offer for Wales

• 2 Year Old Offer (Flying Start) Childcare
  The 2-year-old childcare offer provides 12.5 hours of childcare per week during term time. Children will be eligible for the offer from the term after their second birthday until the term after their third birthday. Childcare can be offered in both Flying Start Settings, and with private childcare settings who are registered to provide the 2-year-old childcare offer.

   

  For more information please visit the Vale of Glamoran Flying Start web page:

  Flying Start Childcare 

• Universal Credit Childcare Element

  Universal Credit is a payment to help with your living costs. You may be able to get it if you’re on a low income, out of work or you cannot work.

   

  If you pay for childcare while you go to work, Universal Credit can pay some of your childcare costs. This includes holiday clubs, after-school clubs and breakfast clubs. If you live with a partner, you both need to be working, unless your partner cannot look after your children.

   

  You can get up to 85% of childcare costs paid back to you.

   

  You may be able to get help from the Flexible Support Fund if you have to pay upfront childcare costs and one of the following applies:

   

  • you’re starting work
  • you’re increasing the hours you work, for example you’ve moved from part-time work to full-time work

   

  For more information:

  Universal Credit (Gov.UK)

• Student Finance- Further Education
  
  

  If you’re over 19 you might need to pay tuition fees. Most FE colleges offer free or discounted tuition to:

  • learners from low income families
  • disabled learners
  • learners on benefits

   

  You may also be eligible for a Welsh Government Learning Grant from Student Finance Wales. 

  You may be able to receive help with the cost of childcare while you are studying. Contact your school or college for more information.

   

  Student Finance: Further Education (Gov.UK)

• Student Finance- Higher Education

  Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to receive 85% of your childcare costs towards the cost of registered or approved childcare. 

   

  You can apply for the childcare grant if you:

  • have at least one child under 15 who depends on you financially, or under 17 if they have special educational needs
  • are using a childcare provider registered by Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW)
  • are attending a full-time or part-time course (including a distance learning course) and getting undergraduate student finance that depends on your household income.

   

  You can't apply if you:

  • claim the childcare element of Universal Credit or Working Tax Credit
  • get tax-free childcare from HM Revenue and Customs
  • are paying a relative to care for your child only
  • or your partner are receiving funding from the NHS.

   

  For more information:

  Student Finance Wales

Need Childcare?

You may need childcare to care for your child before and after school and during the school holidays. There is flexible childcare available.

 

Your child's school may run a breakfast and after school club and childminders are available to drop off and pick up from schools.

 

 

Visit our Choosing Childcare page for more information on the different types of childcare available:

Choosing Childcare

 

Or contact us directly about your childcare needs by completing our online enquiry form. All data will be stored in line with data protection regulations, as set out in the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s Privacy Notice. 

 

Online Enquiry Form