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Part of Get childcare: step by step

Sign in to your childcare account

Sign in to your account to continue to get Tax-Free Childcare or Free Childcare for Working Parents.

You must sign in and confirm your details are up to date every 3 months.

There’s a different way to sign in to your account if you’re a childcare provider.

If you get Tax-Free Childcare, you can also use your account to:

  • pay money in
  • pay your childcare provider
  • apply for an additional child

If you get Free Childcare for Working Parents, you can:

  • get an 11-digit code to give to your childcare provider
  • apply for an additional child

This service is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

Sign in to your account

You’ll need your user ID and password to sign in.

Sign in

If you’re having problems signing in to your account

Contact the Childcare Service helpline if you’re having problems signing in to your childcare account.  

If you’ve been unable to use the service

You may be able to claim compensation if you’ve been unable to access your account due to technical problems with the childcare service.

This page is Part of Get childcare: step by step

  1. 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

  2. and Find where you can get childcare

    1. Find a nursery school place
    2. Find a registered childminder
    3. Search for free early education and childcare

  3. 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

  4. 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. You are currently viewing: 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

  5. 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.