Services

Help with the cost of paying for approved childcare - Tax-Free Childcare, 15 and 30 hours childcare, childcare vouchers, tax credits, Learner Support.

• Childcare you can get help paying for

  You can get help with the cost of childcare through: Tax Free Childcare in…

• 15 hours free childcare for 3 and 4-year-olds

  All 3 to 4-year-olds in England can get 570 free hours per year. It’s…

• Free education and childcare for 2-year-olds if you claim certain benefits

  Your 2-year-old can get free childcare if you live in England and get any…

• Tax credits and childcare

  If you already claim tax credits, you can add an extra amount of Working…

• Universal Credit and childcare

  You may be able to claim back up to 85% of your childcare costs if you’re…

• Childcare vouchers and other employer schemes

  The following schemes are closed to new applicants: childcare vouchers…

• Help with childcare while you study

  School or sixth form You could get weekly payments through Care to Learn…

Child Trust Fund accounts - find a lost account, how to make payments, managing the account

• Overview

  A Child Trust Fund is a long-term tax-free savings account for children…

• Find a Child Trust Fund

  Contact your Child Trust Fund provider directly if you know who the…

• Managing the account

  If you’re the main contact for the Child Trust Fund account you’re called…

• Adding money to the account

  Anyone can pay money into a Child Trust Fund account. The Child Trust Fund…

• What happens when your child is 18

  On your child’s 18th birthday, the Child Trust Fund matures. This means…

• Accounts for children in care

  Some children looked after by local authorities have a Child Trust Fund…

• If your child is terminally ill or dies

  If your child is terminally ill you can take money out of their Child…

Sure Start Maternity Grant is a £500 payment to help with the costs of a new baby: what you'll get, eligibility and how to apply (claim form SF100).

• Overview

  You could get a one-off payment of £500 to help towards the costs of…

• What you'll get

  A Sure Start Maternity Grant is £500 and you do not have to pay it back.…

• Eligibility

  Usually, to get a Sure Start Maternity Grant you must have no other…

• How to claim

  You can claim from 11 weeks before the week your baby is due. The latest…

Find out how to register a birth - who can register, birth certificates

See how the Child Maintenance Service works out maintenance and the rates they use

Check if your council offers free early education and childcare

How to open a Junior ISA for your child - including managing and adding money to an account.

Who has parental responsibility for looking after children, and how to apply for parental responsibility if you were unmarried to the mother or are not on the birth certificate

Employer and employee guide to unpaid parental leave - eligibility, how much leave can be taken and notice periods

The law does not say an age when you can leave a child on their own, but it's an offence to leave a child alone if it puts them at risk

How to find childcare, get help paying for it and what to do if your circumstances change.

• From: HM Revenue & Customs and 1 others

Minimum working age and pay for children, how to apply for performance licences and what local council bylaws say about employing children, paying someone over 16

Legal rights for pregnant employees - including paid time off for antenatal appointments, maternity leave and pay, protection against discrimination and telling the employer about the pregnancy.

Childcare Grants for full-time students in higher education - grants, CCG1, CCG2 forms, how to apply, eligibility

It's illegal to buy alcohol if you're under 18 and you can be stopped, fined or arrested by the police for drinking in public

Contact your local council to find a registered childminder - Family Information Service, early years education, childcare and family support in your area

Search for Ofsted inspection reports for childminders and childcare providers, schools, colleges, further education providers, children and families services

The early years foundation stage (EYFS) sets standards for the learning, development and care of children from birth to 5

Parents must register the birth in the country where the child was born - find out if you can also register the birth in the UK.

The adoption process - eligibility, assessment, adoption agencies, adoption court orders, overseas adoptions and the rights of birth parents.