Help with childcare while you study

School or sixth form

You could get weekly payments through Care to Learn if you’re under 20 at the start of a publicly-funded course, for example at school or sixth form.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

You can apply for Learner Support to pay for childcare if you’re 20 or over and in further education, for example studying for an NVQ, BTEC or PGCE.

You could also get weekly payments through Care to Learn.

You can apply for a Childcare Grant if you’re in full-time higher education to pay for childcare costs for children:

Step 1 Find out if you can get help with childcare costs
1. Check what help you could get with childcare costs
You can only get help with 'approved childcare'.
1. Find out what 'approved childcare' is
and Find where you can get childcare
Step 2 Get help paying for childcare
You can get help with childcare costs for children under 18. You might be able to apply for:
You could also get free childcare when your child is aged 9 months to 4 years. You might be able to apply for:
You can only get childcare vouchers if you have already joined a scheme.
1. Check the rules for childcare vouchers
Step 3 Check what to do if your circumstances change
1. If you're getting Universal Credit, tell government straight away if your circumstances change
If you're getting Free Childcare for Working Parents or Tax-Free Childcare you have to confirm if your details are up to date every 3 months.
1. Sign into your childcare account to find out when you next have to check your details
Your eligibility for support with childcare costs might also change.
1. Check if your eligibility for help with childcare costs has changed
Step 4 Check what to do when your child reaches school age
1. Apply for a primary school place
2. Find before and after school and holiday clubs
You might be able to use Tax-Free Childcare to pay for childcare like wraparound care, after school clubs or other activities.