Use this calculator to find out how much you could get towards registered childcare, including:

• ​free childcare for children aged between 2 and 4; and
• ​help with childcare costs if your child is under 16 (or under 17 and has additional needs).

It should only take around 10 minutes. You’ll need information about you and your partner (if you have one), including:

• ​how much you spend on childcare;
• ​any benefits you or your child gets; and
• ​your income.

Check what help you could get with childcare costs with the childcare calculator.

Childcare calculator external link

Tax-Free Childcare is a government scheme that pays 20% of childcare costs in a registered childcare setting up to a maximum of £2000 each year. The scheme is open to all parents of children under 12 (or under 17 if disabled). You can apply to open a Tax-Free Childcare account online.

Visit the Gov.uk website for details about tax free childcare.

Tax-Free Childcareexternal link

If you’re an undergraduate student who has children or there is an adult who relies on you financially during your studies, you can apply for extra funding.

Find out more on the Student Finance Wales website.

Students with childrenexternal link

Students in further education studying in Wales may be able to claim help with the cost of childcare from the Financial Contingency Fund. Contact your school or college for further information.

If you are a family member over 16 but under State Pension age and you’re caring for a child under 12 (usually while the parent or main carer is working) you may be entitled to claim National Insurance Credits. This includes care that you’re providing from a distance because of coronavirus (COVID-19) – for example, by telephone or video call while you’re self-isolating.

National Insurance Creditsexternal link

The Ministry of Defence has announced a full UK-wide rollout of the Wraparound Childcare Scheme (WAC) from Autumn 2022.

From the start of the 2022 autumn term, WAC funding will be available to all eligible Service families with children aged 4 to 11 years, who are in school or being home schooled in the UK. If eligible, personnel can claim up to 20 hours per week of funding for each child that is attending before and after school care during term time. Wraparound childcare is also known as ‘Out of School care’ in Wales and ‘School Aged Childcare’ in Scotland.

Every child that personnel want to claim WAC funding for must be recorded on JPA and must have a Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) account.

Tax-Free Childcareexternal link

Registered childcare providers have a duty to provide an inclusive environment for all children.

Many of the childcare providers in Flintshire have facilities to care for children with developmental or emerging needs or will make reasonable adjustments to their premises. However, not every setting will be able to do this, so if you have a child who has needs, emerging development or medical needs, it is important that you discuss this with any childcare provider you are thinking of using.

Additional Support Grants

The purpose of these grants is to enable children with Additional Support Needs to access and participate fully in childcare.

The applications must be submitted by the childcare provider. Applications must be supported by a health, social care, childcare or educational professional/practitioner who understands and identifies the child’s need. All applications under this funding is discussed and actioned through an independent Panel. 

1. Extra hand/1:1 support

• ​Some children may require additional support from a member of staff for part or all of the time that they are with their childcare provider.
• ​Funded childcare placements available through Flying Start, Childcare Offer, Childcare and Play and Families First. Where we fund placements to support the child’s developmental needs, we will consider how we support the child to access the learning environment.
• ​Currently, additional support funding is not available for all children to access care provision, which is why we support settings to consider how they best meet the care needs of the children in their setting.

2. Equipment/Resources

• ​Funding for equipment and resources to enable children to participate fully.  This varies depending upon the child’s needs, but could include additional learning materials or specialist play equipment.
• ​Capital funding provided by Welsh Government for small and large capital projects to help ensure a quality childcare setting and seamless pathways between childcare and schools.

3. Training for childcare providers

• ​Training on specific medical/healthcare/ developmental needs or more general training that is directly linked to the care for a specific child with additional support needs
• ​ALN awareness training for childcare workers
• ​Specific training for understanding autism, neuro-developmental needs and social communication needs
• ​Training on strategies as well as modelling strategies in the setting
• ​Observations at the setting to identify appropriate developmental targets for the child and refer to specialist services if needed

Finding a suitable childcare provider

There are many types of childcare available across Flintshire, from home-based childminders, community based sessional childcare to large day nurseries, all with a range of skills and experience to support children with additional support needs.

Choosing a childcare provider

If you wish to discuss your options, contact the Early Years Gateway. They will be able help you find a suitable childcare provider who can meet your child’s needs.

How we support childcare providers

Our Early Years team support childcare settings to achieve quality, inclusive environments, by providing:

• ​Training on specific medical/healthcare/developmental needs or more general training that is directly linked to the care for a specific child with additional support needs
• ​ALN awareness training for childcare workers
• ​Specific training for understanding autism, neuro-developmental needs and social communication needs
• ​Training on strategies as well as modelling strategies in the setting
• ​Observations at the setting to identify appropriate developmental targets for the child and refer to specialist services if needed
• ​Funding for equipment and resources to enable children to participate fully. This varies depending upon the child’s needs, but could include additional learning materials or specialist play equipment.
• ​Capital funding provided by Welsh Government for small and large capital projects to help ensure a quality childcare setting and seamless pathways between childcare and schools.
• ​Funded childcare placements available through Flying Start, Childcare Offer, Childcare and Play and Families First. Where we fund placements to support the child’s developmental needs, we will consider how we support the child to access the learning environment. There is not a funding scheme to offer additional support for all children to access care provision, which is why we support settings to consider how they best meet the care needs of the children in their setting.

Find out more about childcare grants

There are a number of schemes available to help with childcare costs, and for your child to go to childcare and pre-school education.  Then when they go to school there is also some help for families.  We have tried to list these in ages, so you can think about them early and know what to apply for when, if you and your child are eligible.

Further information is available from the Family Information Service.

The Welsh Government are rolling out the Flying Start Childcare in Flintshire.

If you live in a Flying Start expansion area your child is entitled to a funded childcare place from the term following their second birthday up until the end of the term that they turn three in a Flying Start registered childcare setting.

Children are entitled to a 2.5 hour session per day, up to 5 days a week, term-time only. There may be circumstances when you want less than 5 days, and/or you may want to adapt the sessions. You can discuss this with your chosen provider and Flying Start Team to ensure it best meets the needs of the child.

Regular part-time attendance at high quality childcare has shown to significantly improve outcomes for children. If you live in a Flying Start area, we encourage you to take up your childcare place to help and support your child.

Flying Start

Find out more about the education element of the 30 hour offer – including important information about eligibility and your child’s date of birth.

Early Entitlement Funding Scheme

You can apply for a school place for your children here. Application dates vary depending on whether you are applying for nursery, reception or high school. You can also apply to change schools (for example, because of a house move) here.

Nursery/School Applications

Some families who meet certain criteria, for example, those on lower incomes or in receipt of certain benefits, are entitled to receive a free school meal (eFSM). On a successful application for eFSM families are then eligible for other benefits to cover the cost of school essentials such as the school essentials grant.  

Free School Meals and School Essentials Grant