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Early years education

All three and four year olds are entitled to 15 hours of free nursery education for 38 weeks of the year. This applies until they reach compulsory school age (the term following their fifth birthday). Free nursery education can take place in nurseries, playgroups, preschools or at their childminders.

• Free early learning for three and four year olds

Tax credits

Tax credits are payments from the government. If you're responsible for at least one child or young person who normally lives with you, you may qualify for Child Tax Credit. If you work, but earn low wages, you may qualify for Working Tax Credit. If you work and pay for childcare you may also be able to get extra tax credits to help with the costs.

• Children and tax credits

Time off and flexible working

Time off ('parental leave')

If you're a working parent, you can take up to 13 weeks parental leave for each child until their fifth birthday (you get more than this if you have a disabled child). Your employer doesn't have to pay you when you take this leave, but they might as part of your employment package.

• More about parental leave

Flexible working

Flexible working lets you ask your employer for a new working pattern to help you care for your child. You have a right to request a flexible working pattern if you've got a child aged under six or a disabled child under 18. Your employer has to consider your request seriously.

To have the right to ask for flexible working, you must:

You'll need to fill in an application form when you apply for flexible working. You can only make one application a year.

• Who can request flexible working? (employment section)

• Flexible working: making an application (employment section)

Job Grant

Job Grant is a tax free lump sum you may get when you start full-time work (at least 16 hours a week). You'll get it if you (and your partner if you have one) are aged 25 or over and you've been getting one or more of these benefits for at least 26 weeks before you started work:

For lone parents and couples with children the grant is £250. (If you or your partner are under 25 years, different rules may apply.)

• More information about Job Grants (money, tax and benefits section)

Child maintenance and benefits

Since October 2008, all parents have been able to choose how to arrange child maintenance, even if they're on benefits.

Also, since April 2010 parents with care can keep all child maintenance paid to them and this should no longer affect their income-related benefits.

• About child maintenance

Getting help from your employer

Many employers now offer their employees help to pay for childcare, this can include:

• paying you cash to pay for childcare
• paying the childcare fees directly
• paying the child’s school fees

Should your employer offer any of the above, you will be liable for tax and national insurance contributions on whatever aid is given. There are other types of childcare support your employer could provide however, without you having to pay tax or national insurance contributions. These are:

• childcare vouchers
• directly contracted childcare
• workplace nurseries

For more information on the different types of help you could get from your employer, download the leaflet below.

• Download 'Paying for childcare - getting help from your employer' (PDF document, 995 KB) Opens new window

More useful links

• Childcare Act guarantees a sure start for future

• Information and advice for jobseekers (employment section)

• Working and paying tax (money, tax and benefits section)

Useful contacts

• Parents contacts