Our No. 1 Priority

The newly reinstated (February 2024) NI Executive has announced that providing parents with help towards the cost of childcare is top of its agenda and it is broadly agreed among parties that a bespoke system needs to be developed for NI to support early learning and enable parental employment.

Our Manager, Judith, sits on a focus group with key personnel from Belfast Metropolitan College, Employers for Childcare,  Childcare Partnerships and selected childcare providers with the aim of strategising and implementing effective solutions to the current childcare crisis. Key MLAs will be invited to attend the workshops and engage with professionals and parents who will have the opportunity to provide a crucial insight into the issues involved and innovative suggestions for reform.

Until the Executive implements a new financial package for the childcare sector, working parents have two primary options to receive financial help towards the cost of childcare:

Tax Free Childcare

The Government's Tax Free Childcare Scheme means you can get up to £500 every 3 months (up to £2,000 a year) for each of your children to help with the costs of childcare. This goes up to £1,000 every 3 months if a child is disabled (up to £4,000 a year). More information is available at: Tax-Free Childcare - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)   

Universal Credit

The government can help you (subject to status) with up to 85% of your childcare costs, no matter how many hours you work. This means you can receive up to £951 per month for one child or a maximum of £1630 per month for two or more children.

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The HMRC website dedicated to Universal Credit and general assistance with childcare costs can be found at https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs  

​To find out if you will be better off using Tax Free Childcare or Universal Credit, you can contact Employers for Childcare's Family Benefits Service on 0800 028 3008 or by email at: [email protected] for free advice specific to your circumstances.

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Student Finance
Many universities and colleges provide up to 85% funding. Please note however, you may only get funding for term times. Contact your university or college for more information.