National Health Services - Childcare Grant

What the Childcare Grant gives you

You will receive up to 85% of your childcare costs as a grant, up to a maximum of either £199.62 per week (about 230 EUR) for one child or £342.24 per week (about 395 EUR) for two or more children. You will need to cover the remainder yourself. You do not have to repay this money, and it is in addition to your student loans and other student finance support. This is a grant from the UK Government, administered by Student Finance England, intended for full-time students in England who are bringing up children. The payments are paid into an online account, and your childcare provider will be paid directly from this account once your course has started.

Who can apply

• Study level: You are a full-time student and are taking at least 120 credits per year on a degree programme.
• Your children: You have a child under the age of 15, or under the age of 17 if the child has special educational needs. The children must be financially dependent on you.
• Where you live: You live permanently in England.
• Student finance: You are already receiving means-tested student finance or are eligible for it. You do not have a loan for postgraduate study.
• Household income: Your household earns less than £20,107.23 per year if you have one child, or less than £28,914.47 if you have two or more children.
• No overlapping support: Neither you nor your partner are claiming tax-free childcare, the childcare element of the Working Tax Credit or Universal Credit, or childcare support from the NHS.
• Registered provider: Your childcare provider is listed on the Ofsted register for early years care or on the general childcare register.
• Field of study: Open to all subjects.

The grant does not cover the 15 or 30 hours of free childcare, but only the childcare provided beyond that which is subject to a charge.

How to apply

You apply online as part of your normal Student Finance England application and send the evidence they ask for. You get the decision by letter. Then you set up your online payment account, which releases money to your provider each week.