Nursery and childcare funding

Tower Hamlets Family Information Service provides up-to-date information for parents and carers looking for private and voluntary sector day-care for babies and young children aged up to five years old.

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

1. Nursery education funding

Nursery education funding (NEF) is paid to nursery education providers and covers the cost of part-time nursery education places for three and four year olds. It is paid for up to 12.5 hours weekly, with a maximum of five sessions in a week for 38 weeks per year. From September 2010, all children will be entitled to 15 hours of free nursery education per week (for 38 weeks).

Children are entitled to a free part-time nursery education place the term after their third birthday and the child must be registered with the playgroup or nursery by the 'head count' date of each term to qualify. The funding needs to be applied for directly by the nursery or playgroup providing nursery education for the child.

The child may be eligible for a free part-time place if they are attending an OFSTED registered childcare setting such as:

a playgroup
a local authority day nursery
a private sector day nursery
a voluntary sector day nursery

For more information, please refer to Directgov or contact Tower Hamlets Family Information Service using the details below.

2. Two Year Old Nursery Education Pilot (to 31 March 2011)

LBTH is offering up to 15 hours of funded childcare (term time) for children who are two years old and their families are on low incomes who would otherwise not be able to afford childcare. To qualify, you must be in receipt of one of the following benefits:

Income Support
Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
Child Tax Credit at a rate higher than the family element; £545 a year (or £1090 if you also have a child under one year of age)
Extra Working Tax Credit for a disability or Pension Credit
National Asylum Seekers' Support (NASS)

In addition to this income criteria, the limited places available will be allocated to those families who have a high priority based on the child's development and learning needs, along with the family's location within the borough.

Families who would otherwise be unable to afford childcare due to low income and benefit receipt are seeing the benefits of quality childcare for their child. This is giving a head start in helping to prepare children for primary school and the the challenges their childhood and life will bring. Wider family support is also offered by the extensive network of children's centres across the borough.

Free childcare will help you to balance your work, family life and provide exciting experiences for your child. The free childcare places are provided by childminders, nurseries, playgroups and creches who have met our stringent quality criteria.

On receipt of your application, we will advise you of the possible vacancies and whether there is a currently a waiting list.

To discuss your family circumstances as to whether you may qualify for the 15 hours of funded childcare and to request an application form, please contact Aliyah Salim on 020 7364 4367 or email aliyah.salim@towerhamlets.gov.uk

3. 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 per cent of childcare costs depending on your individual circumstances. You should contact the Tax Credit Helpline on 0845 300 3900 to see whether you could benefit from this scheme.

You can apply if:

You are a single parent aged 16 or over and work at least 16 hours a week.
You are a couple where both are aged 16 or over and both work at least 16 hours a week or one of you is disabled.
You pay for registered childcare: eg 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 per cent of your eligible childcare costs and 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. You can claim up to 80 per cent of these costs (for example, £175 x 80 per cent = £140.00).
Two or more children - the maximum is £300 a week. You can claim up to 80 per cent of these costs (for example, £300 x 80 per cent = £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.

4. Childcare vouchers

Many employers now offer employees help to pay for childcare with childcare vouchers. Childcare vouchers are a way of paying for certain types of childcare. The employer gives you the option to take part of your salary, a ‘salary sacrifice’, in childcare vouchers. You will not have to pay tax or National Insurance Contributions on the first £55 per week or £243 per month.

As the vouchers are tax and NIC free, parents can make a saving if they pay for their childcare with vouchers rather than from the normal taxable pay. In order to receive childcare vouchers, your employer will need to be offering a scheme.

5. Care to Learn

Care to Learn is funding for young parents under 20 years old to help with the cost of childcare whilst learning. Care to Learn pays up to £175 (in London) per child per week towards childcare and travel costs.

To qualify for Care to Learn you must:

live in England
you must be in, or considering starting, learning that has some public funding
be under 20 years old on the day your course or learning programme begins
care for your own child or children

Care to Learn can be claimed by either the child’s father or mother, as long the other parent is unable to provide childcare (because, for example, they are working) or the other parent is not claiming Childcare Tax Credit. If you have more than one child, you can get help for each of them.

Only childcare providers registered with Ofsted can be used. The Family Information Service can help to find a registered childcare provider in your area.

The childcare provider will receive payment direct from Care to Learn. Any funding to help with travel costs will be paid directly to the learning or training provider, who will reimburse the parent.

6. Further information

Care to Learn

Contact the helpline on 0800 121 8989.

Finding local childcare

The Family Information Service can be contacted on 020 7364 6495 between 8.00am and 6.00pm, Monday - Friday or by email on fis@towerhamlets.gov.uk