What help can I get with childcare costs?

Childcare in the UK is expensive, but several schemes cut the cost. In England, working parents can get up to 30 hours of funded childcare per week (term time) for children from 9 months old until they start school, and all 3 and 4 year olds get at least 15 hours regardless of work status. Tax-Free Childcare adds 20p from the government for every 80p you pay in, worth up to 2,000 pounds per child per year, usable with registered nurseries and childminders. Families receiving Universal Credit can instead claim back up to 85 percent of childcare costs. Important for newcomers: some schemes have income and immigration conditions - if your visa says no recourse to public funds, check which schemes you can still use (Tax-Free Childcare and the 15 or 30 funded hours are often still possible). Use the childcare calculator on GOV.UK.