Find out what help you could get with your childcare costs via the GOV.UK online calculator.
Help paying for childcare
Nine months to two years
Working parents of children from the age of nine months to 2 years of age may be eligible for 15 hours of funded childcare a week.
This will be increased to 30 hours in September 2025.
Visit the Childcare Choices website to see if your child is eligible.
Funding for two year olds
If you are claiming benefits or on a low income your 2 year old may be entitled to 2 year old funding.
This includes children who receive Disability Living Allowance or who have an EHCP.
Please check and apply through our webpage on the North Somerset Online Directory (NSOD).
Funding for three and four year olds
All children aged 3 or 4 years old are eligible for funded childcare for up to 15 hours a week.
If you are a working parent, your child may be eligible for funding for 30 hours a week.
Please note, the 15 hour funding for three and four year olds is universal. This means there is no need to apply for this funding. Please contact your early years provider for more information.
Eligibility
Visit the Childcare Choices website to find out more about
- eligibility criteria for the 15 and 30 hour working parent support for children aged nine months and over
- details of how to apply
Documents required to claim funding
For a childcare provider to claim funding for your child you will need to provide:
- birth certificate
- passport
- parent declaration form (the childcare provider will give this to you)
How to claim the funding for working parent entitlements
To access the working parent entitlements you will require a code. More information about how to access these codes is available on the Childcare Choices website.
Visit NSOD to learn more about where you can claim the funding and any additional charges that may apply.
North Somerset Council cannot provide you with a code or accept late codes.
Once you have received your code you must revalidate it every three months via your online account. If you don't, the code will become invalid.
Additional financial help available
Parents and carers can see what other help they can get with the cost of childcare via the Childcare Choices website.
This includes:
- Tax Free childcare
- Disability Access Fund (DAF)
- Early Years Pupil Premium
- Working Tax Credit
- Childcare Vouchers
- Universal Credit Childcare
- Support whilst you Study