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Getting help with pre-school costs

If you are a working parent, lone parent or a student, you may be entitled to extra help with the costs of early learning and childcare.

Funded Pre-school Education

Funded pre-school education is available in nursery schools, primary schools with nursery classes and some voluntary and private playgroups and day nurseries.

It is designed for children in the year immediately before they enter Primary 1. For September 2012, that means children who reach their third birthday on or before 1 July 2012.

Additional information on funded pre-school education is available via the link below.

Help for working parents

If you have a child, you may be able to get Child Tax Credit to help with the cost of looking after them. If you are on a low income, you may also qualify for Working Tax Credit. This could mean getting back up to 70 per cent of your childcare costs up to a limit of £122.50 a week for one child and £210 a week for two children. You need to use a registered or approved childcare provider for this to apply.

Help for lone parents

Lone parents who are out of work can get help through a government programme called Steps to Work. Further information is available through your local Jobs & Benefits office/JobCentre.

Help for students

If you’re in further education, you can get financial help while studying in two ways: either an Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) or a Discretionary Award.

Education Maintenanace Allowance

EMA is a fortnightly payment of up to £60 for students who are aged 16 to 19 years.

It is paid directly to young people from households with an income of £33,950 or less who stay on in education after they reach statutory leaving age (i.e. after the end of their compulsory schooling).

Further Education Awards

Further Education Awards normally fall into one of the three following categories:

  • under 19 Further Education Awards
  • Further Education Awards
  • Advanced Further Education Awards

For more information you need to contact your local education and library board.

Help from employers

Some employers offer a childcare allowance or vouchers as part of a ‘salary sacrifice’ scheme. It may be worth asking your line manager, personnel or human resources department whether your employer runs a scheme like this.

More useful links

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