Paying for childcare

Nursery Entitlement Funding

Almost all day nurseries, local authority nurseries, pre-schools, playgroups and independent schools in Herefordshire are able to provide five free sessions (a session is classified as two and a half hours) per week for three and four year olds. Childminders who are part of a network in Herefordshire can also offer nursery entitlement funding.

Child Tax Credit

The Child Tax Credit is extra money for all families with children. You don't have to be working to claim the Child Tax Credit but have to be responsible for at least one dependent child or young person. Contact the Inland Revenue for more information.

Working Tax Credit

You could be eligible to claim extra cash through the Working Tax Credit if you or your partner work for 16 hours or more a week. If you are paying for childcare you could also be eligible to claim up to 70% of those childcare costs back. For further information contact the Inland Revenue.

Help from employers

Some employers provide some kind of childcare help to employees such as childcare allowances, vouchers or subsidised childcare services. It's always worth asking to find out if your employer has plans to help with childcare.

Extra help for lone parents

Lone parents who join New Deal for Lone Parents at their local Jobcentre Plus can get some help with childcare costs while they train for work or search for work.

Extra help for parents in education

Care to Learn offers a package for teenage parents under the age of 19. It gives support to parents wishing to continue with their education or training by providing information, advice and funding for childcare.

The Learner Support Fund is designed to help further education students aged 16 to 18 with a variety of costs including childcare.
Parents studying an NHS funded professional training course will be able to claim the NHS Childcare Allowance which can help parents claim up to 85% of their childcare costs.