United Kingdom · Planning tools

Childcare Cost and Support Planner

Estimate childcare costs after the support you can use. This planner separates funded hours, eligible remaining costs and Tax-Free Childcare top-ups so you can see what may still need to come from your budget.

Your details

Your scenario

One child, one confirmed Tax-Free Childcare entitlement period. England funded hours; UK Tax-Free Childcare. Other nations’ funded schemes need their official services. Eligibility declarations are required only for support selected.

Nation Child birth date Attendance starts Attendance ends Confirmed TFC period starts Confirmed TFC period ends Actual provider weeks in this period Attendance hours per week Agreed hourly charge (£) Extras not eligible for support (£) Use England funded hours? Provider confirms entitlement, code and term dates Confirmed annual funded hours Provider weeks across the full year Confirmed annual hours remaining Use Tax-Free Childcare? Each parent meets work, income, age and residency conditions Provider registered for Tax-Free Childcare Parent 1 adjusted net income (£) Parent 2 adjusted net income (£), or 0 if single parent Confirmed disability extension? Government top-up already used this entitlement period (£) Claim Universal Credit childcare?

Entries stay in this browser and clear on reload. Examples use illustrative confirmations; replace them with your own checked details.

How to use this tool

Choose your nation and confirm the scheme you can use.
Enter provider hours, charges and extra costs.
Review the parent payment and confirm eligibility through the official service.

How the result is calculated

Supported funded hours reduce eligible attendance charges first. Tax-Free Childcare is then modelled on eligible remaining costs within the available cap. Term-time funding is not automatically a full-year discount.

Worked example

For an illustrative £1,000 eligible remaining bill, 20% support would provide £200 and leave £800 to pay, provided sufficient scheme allowance remains.

What this result does not cover

England funded-hours modelling does not represent Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland schemes. This planner does not calculate Universal Credit entitlement or confirm an award.

Questions people ask

Are meals and extras always funded?

No. Check the provider's itemised charges and scheme rules.

Can I combine every childcare scheme?

No. Some combinations, including TFC and UC childcare, are incompatible. Do funded hours cover every week? Use the annual entitlement and your provider's actual delivery schedule.

Supported scope and official sources

Source snapshot: 21 October 2026. Independent specialist review is pending. Calculations do not confirm eligibility or replace official decisions.

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