Paying for childcare

We review the fees at council-funded children’s centres and community nurseries every year. Find funded nurseries.

Read the charging policy (PDF).

Childminders and private nurseries set their own fees.

Help paying for childcare

Depending on your household income and the age of your child, you could get support through Government-funded schemes:

• Best Start in Life
• free early learning and childcare  
• tax-free childcare
• Universal Credit and the Flexible Support Fund
• a range of grants and funding schemes
• employer-supported childcare like childcare vouchers

Best Start in Life is a Government website that brings together trusted information and support from pregnancy through your child’s early years and beyond

Tax-free childcare

You can use the childcare calculator to work out if you’ll be better off with tax-tree childcare. You can also contact the tax credit helpline on 034 5300 3900 for advice.

If you apply for tax-free childcare, you won’t be able to get:

• child tax credit
• working tax credit
• Universal Credit
• childcare vouchers from your employer 

Your Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit payments will stop if you successfully apply for tax-free childcare. 

You can apply for tax-free childcare even if you get:

• Child Benefit
• 15-hours free childcare and education for children aged two to four-years-old
• 30-hours free childcare

If a technical reason has stopped you getting tax-free childcare through your childcare account, you may be able to claim compensation. 

To get help with tax credits when paying a relative for childcare, the relative must register as a childminder and also be willing to look after other children as part of their childminding business.

More information

We can give you more information and advice about paying for childcare. Contact us on 020 7527 5959 or email FIS@islington.gov.uk.