Childcare Grant

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1. Overview

You may be eligible for help with your childcare costs if you:

  • are a full-time higher education student (studying 120 credits or more)
  • have children under 15, or under 17 if they have special educational needs

The grant:

  • does not have to be paid back
  • is paid on top of your other student finance

You may have to pay back any money you are overpaid because of a change in your circumstances or course.

You must be eligible for student finance to apply for a Childcare Grant.

2. What you'll get

The amount you’ll get depends on:

  • your household income
  • the number of children who are dependent on you

2026 to 2027 academic year

You can get 85% of your childcare costs or a fixed maximum amount, whichever is less.

The maximum you can get is:

  • up to £199.62 a week for one child
  • up to £342.24 a week for 2 or more children

Examples

If your childcare for one child costs £100 a week, you’ll get £85 - this is 85% of your costs.

If your childcare for one child costs £250 a week, you’ll get £199.62. This is because 85% of your costs is £212.50, which is above the maximum weekly amount.

You have to pay any remaining costs.

2025 to 2026 academic year

You can get 85% of your childcare costs or a fixed maximum amount, whichever is less.

The maximum you can get is:

  • up to £199.62 a week for one child
  • up to £342.24 a week for 2 or more children

How you’re paid

Your grant will be paid into a Childcare Grant Payment Service (CCGPS) account. You’ll get an email telling you how to set one up. This email will arrive 10 working days after the letter telling you how much Childcare Grant you’ll get.

Your childcare provider will send requests for payment to the CCGPS, which you can approve through your account. You’ll usually need to do this every week. Your provider will be paid directly from the money in your account.

You can only approve payments to your childcare provider once your course has started. You cannot use the Childcare Grant to pay for upfront costs such as deposits.

Any money that’s left over at the end of the academic year will be returned to Student Finance England.

Income-related, unemployment and housing benefits are not affected by a Childcare Grant.

3. Eligibility

To qualify for a Childcare Grant all the following must apply:

  • you’re a full-time student (studying 120 credits or more)
  • your child must be under 15, or under 17 if they have special educational needs
  • you get student finance based on your household income (or are eligible for this)
  • you’re not getting a Postgraduate Loan
  • you’re a permanent resident in England
  • your household income is less than £20,107.23 - if you’re applying for 1 child
  • your household income is less than £28,914.47 - if you’re applying for 2 or more children
  • neither you or your partner are claiming Tax-Free Childcare, the childcare element of working Tax Credit or Universal Credit
  • neither you or your partner receive help with childcare costs from the NHS
  • the children in your grant application are financially dependent on you
  • your childcare provider is on the Ofsted Early Years Register or General Childcare Register - check with your provider

A Childcare Grant is different to 15 or 30 hours free childcare. You cannot use it to pay for those hours.

If your childcare is provided by a nanny

From the 2026 to 2027 academic year, you cannot get a Childcare Grant if your childcare is provided by a nanny (someone you employ to look after your child in your home).

You’ll need to use an alternative, such as a registered childminder or a nursery. This is the case for both new and returning students.

4. How to apply

To apply for a Childcare Grant follow these steps:

  1. Apply online as part of your main student finance application.

  2. Send in evidence. You’ll be told what evidence you need to provide when you apply.

  3. You’ll be sent a letter telling you how much Childcare Grant you’ll get.

  4. Create an online account with the Childcare Grant Payment Service (CCGPS). You’ll get an email telling you how to set one up. Your grant will be paid into this account.

Use the paper form instead if you:

  • have already applied for student finance but did not apply for a childcare grant at the same time
  • want to apply for another child

You can download the form from the student finance form finder.

Use your student finance account to send the form to Student Finance England, or send it by post.

Student Finance England
PO Box 210
Darlington
DL1 9HJ