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Childcare costs support for children with SEND

There are currently 3 types of funded childcare support for families with children aged 9 months to 4 years in early education. These are
  • 30 hours of funded childcare for eligible working families with children aged 9 months to 4 years
  • 15 hours of funded childcare for eligible families receiving additional support (FRAS) with children aged 2
  • 15 hours of funded childcare for all 3 and4-year-olds (Universal entitlement)
The above support all have different eligibility criteria and this is explained in more detail below. You will also find other forms of financial childcare support for children with SEND, both within and outside of the early years age range 

30 hours of funded childcare for eligible working families with children aged 9 months to 4 years (Opens in New Window)

15 hours of funded childcare for all 3 and4-year-olds (Universal entitlement)

15 hours of funded childcare for eligible families receiving additional support with children

This is available to families if their 2 year old has:
  • an education, health and care (EHC) plan or,
  • is receiving Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
You may also qualify if you are in receipt of certain income related benefits. 

Tax-Free Childcare for Working Families

Tax-Free Childcare is a government scheme to help working families with their childcare costs for children aged 0 to 11 years (or 0 to 16 if disabled).

You could get up to £1,000 every 3 months if a child is disabled (up to £4,000 a year). 

To be eligible you need to be working and your child should:
  • get Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment or Armed Forces Independence Payment
  • be certified as blind or severely sight-impaired

See www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare for more information and how to apply

Funding for your early years provider to help support your child (Opens in New Window)


Free introductory 24 hours of childminder care for your child

The Short Breaks Service can pay for an Ofsted registered childminders fees for the first 24 hours of care for you. The aim of this is to you and the childminder build a supportive relationship for your child.

To be eligible for this introductory childcare support,
  • Your family/child must be registered with Short Breaks.
  • Your child must meet level of need pathway 2 or 3
You will need to contact childminders to see if they can meet your child’s individual needs. Once you have found someone, contact Short Breaks team and they will organise payment of the first 24 hours with the childminder. It is then up to you to continue paying for the service and other forms of support information are available from this page.
The Short Breaks team can be contacted on 020 8583 3636.

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