Once you have found and chosen a quality childcare provider, the next step is to look at what assistance is available to help you pay for your childcare.
There are several different schemes available to help parents/carers pay their childcare costs depending on their individual family circumstances. Details of some of these schemes are given below, but for more information about which schemes you might be eligible for, please contact Kids Lincs on 01724 296629.
- All parents
- Parents in work
- Parents in education and training
- Parents of disabled children
- Other help
All parents
All three and four year olds are entitled to 15 hours a week of free early learning and care (free entitlement) for 38 weeks of the year regardless of the family's employment or financial situation. For more information can be found on the Early Years section of the website.
From September 2013, some two year olds who live in North Lincolnshire and meet eligibility criteria will be entitled to 15 hours per week free childcare from the term following their second birthday for at least 38 weeks per year. For more information visit the two year old funding pages on the website.
Parents in work
If you are a working parent you might be entitled to the Working Tax Credit and the childcare element can pay for up to 70 per cent of your childcare cost. For more information and to check if you are eligible visit the Gov.uk website
If you are looking to return to work or training support might be available from Jobcentre Plus.
Employer childcare voucher schemes
Many employers offer childcare voucher schemes to their employees to pay for registered childcare that may or may not be work-based.
The childcare vouchers may be given to the employee on top of their salary or as part of a "salary sacrifice" scheme. A "salary sacrifice" scheme requires the employee to give up a part of their salary in exchange for the voucher. The advantage for the employee is that the sacrificed salary is not subject to tax or National Insurance payments.
You should speak to your employer to ask if they run a childcare voucher scheme.
To find out which option will save you the most money visit the Childcare Vouchers and Tax Credits - better off calculator.
Parents in education and training
There are several schemes available to assist students with the cost of paying for childcare whilst they study. They could be a young parent, an adult learner, full-time or part-time or studying or training for a return to work.
Help with childcare for disabled children
As well as the general schemes outlined above that are open to all parents; the parents of children with disabilities or Special Educational Needs may be entitled to other sources of financial help to cover their childcare costs.:
For more information on Direct Payments you can contact North Lincolnshire Council's Children's Social Services team on 01724 296500.
Other help available
There may be other schemes available to help you meet the costs of your childcare so do contact Kids Lincs on 01724 296629 for more information.
