Nursery & childcare funding

Tower Hamlets Children’s Information Service provides up-to-date information for parents and for carers responsible for children who are looking for private and voluntary sector day care for babies and young children aged up to 5 years old.

To find out more, please refer to one of the following sections:

• Nursery education grants
• Working tax credit/childcare tax credit
• Useful links
• Further information

Nursery education grants

Nursery Education Grants (NEG's) are paid to nursery education providers and cover the cost of part-time nursery education places for three and four year olds. The grant entitlement is for 55 two-and-a-half-hour sessions per year.

Children are eligible for a grant aided place the term after their third birthday and your child must attend the nursery education setting on the 'head count' date of each term to qualify. The grants need to be applied for directly by the nursery or playgroup providing nursery education for your child.

Your child may be eligible for funding if they are attending an OFSTED registered establishment such as:

• a playgroup
• a children's centre
• a private sector day nursery
• a voluntary sector day nursery

For more information please refer to the Childcarelink
website or contact the Tower Hamlets Children’s Information Service using the contact information below.

The childcare element of working tax credit

Working tax credit is a payment from the government to support working families on low income. If you have at least one child or are responsible for bringing up children and are paying for registered childcare you may qualify for the childcare element of working tax credit.

The childcare element could pay up to 80% of childcare costs depending on your individual circumstances. You should contact the Tax Credit Helpline to see whether you could benefit from this scheme.

You can apply if:

• You’re a single parent working at least 16 hours a week or if you are a couple where each of you works at least 16 hours a week or one of you is disabled
• You pay for registered childcare i.e. a registered childminder, a nursery or after-school club or holiday play scheme. Please note that informal childcare such as friends or relatives will not be eligible.

The childcare element can help with up to 80% of your eligible childcare costs. There are limits on the weekly costs you can claim. If you pay childcare for:

• one child, the maximum you can claim is £175 a week
• two or more children, the maximum is £300 a week.

If you have one child, you can claim 80% of costs from a maximum of £175.00 per week (i.e. £175 x 80% = £140.00).

If you have two or more children, you can claim 80% of costs from a maximum of £300.00 per week (i.e. £300 x 80% = £240.00).

For further information on working tax and childcare tax credits, please visit the Inland Revenue website or telephone them on 0845 300 3900.

Useful links

For any further information, please look at the following useful websites:

SureStart - a government programme which aims to improve life for children and parents by providing a range of services. It also aims to increase the availability of childcare for all children.

Inland Revenue Tax credits - The Inland Revenue site provides further information on working tax and childcare tax credits.

Further information

For more information please contact:

Tower Hamlets Children’s Information Service (shop front)
189 Roman Road
London
E2 0QY

Tel: 020 7364 6495 – 24 hour answerphone
E-mail: cis@towerhamlets.gov.uk

Open from 9am to 4.30pm from Monday to Friday.

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