Early years funding and childcare support | Live Well in Bath & North East Somerset

Funded childcare for children aged 9 months-old to 4 years-old

The government provides funded childcare to help parents with childcare costs and give children the opportunity to learn, develop and prepare for school.

Support for working families

If you are a working parent of a child aged 9 months to 4 years, you may be able to get up to:

30 hours of funded childcare a week
38 weeks of childcare a years during term time.

Early Years Entitlement Funding is available from the term after your child becomes eligible.

For more information, visit the childcare funding page on the B&NES council website.

Early years funding for eligible 2-year-olds

Some 2-year-olds can get:

15 hours of funded childcare a week
38 weeks of childcare a year.

Your child may qualify if your family receives certain benefits or if your child meets specific criteria, such as having an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or receiving Disability Living Allowance (DLA).

You can apply for this funding through the childcare funding page on the B&NES council website.

Universal funding for 3 and 4-year-olds

All children aged 3 and 4 years can get:

15 hours of funded early education a week
38 weeks of childcare a year

This funding is available regardless of your income or employment status. You can only use it with an Ofsted-registered early years setting.

The early years setting will claim this funding on your child’s behalf.

Using funded childcare

You can use funded childcare with Ofsted-approved early years settings including:

nurseries
pre-schools
childminders
school nursery classes.

The funded hours cover childcare and early education. Some providers may charge for optional extras, such as meals, nappies, trips or extra hours that are not covered by the funding. Speak to your early years setting to understand what you may need to pay for.

Additional help with childcare costs

Tax-Free Childcare

Tax-Free Childcare is a government scheme that helps eligible working families with childcare costs. For every £8 you pay into a Tax-Free Childcare account, the government will add £2. This gives you a 20% top-up towards your childcare costs.

You can get up to £2,000 per child each year, or up to £4,000 per year for a disabled child. You can use Tax-Free Childcare to pay approved childcare providers, including nurseries, childminders, breakfast clubs, after-school clubs and holiday clubs.

You can use Tax-Free Childcare alongside funded childcare entitlements to help cover additional childcare costs.

Visit Best Start in Life parent hub for more information.

Universal Credit childcare support

If you are working and receive Universal Credit, you may be able to claim back up to 85% of your childcare costs. This can help with the cost of registered childcare, including nurseries, pre-schools, childminders, breakfast clubs, after-school clubs and some holiday clubs.

You usually pay the childcare provider first and then report the childcare costs through your Universal Credit account. Universal Credit will then reimburse up to 85% of eligible costs as part of your monthly payment.

The maximum amount available is £1,071.09 a month for one child or £1,836.16 a month for 2 or more children.

You can use Universal Credit childcare support alongside funded childcare entitlements. Tax-Free Childcare may be available for other families, helping parents access affordable childcare and stay in work.

Visit Best Start in Life parent hub for more information or speak to your Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) work coach.

B&NES children's centres

Our children's centres offer advice and support about family life, including:

health, including antenatal care, breastfeeding, obesity, and healthy lifestyles
early years development
childminding groups
messy play
positive parenting
early support groups for children with additional needs or disabilities.

Find your nearest B&NES children's centre.