Your early learning and childcare options
Help with paying for childcare
Universal Credit
If you are eligible for Universal Credit, you may be able to claim up to 85% of your childcare costs
- Universal Credit helpline: 0800 3285644
Tax Credits
You may be eligible for help paying for childcare if you receive Tax Credits.
Tax-Free Childcare
The Tax-Free Childcare scheme can help with the cost of childcare. This replaces Childcare Vouchers which are closed to new applicants.
If you joined one of the schemes on or before 4 October 2018, you might be able to still get vouchers or directly contracted childcare.
Visit the Scottish Government website and Childcare Choices for more information on help with paying for childcare.
Students
If you are a student, support may be available. Contact your university or college for information.
Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods
You can get Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods:
- if your child is the right age for a payment
- whether you're in work or not, as long as you're on certain payments or benefits
- as long as you're the parent of a child, or the main person looking after the child.
Best Start Grant is 3 cash payments. Each payment can only be paid once per child.
The 3 Best Start Grant payments are:
- Pregnancy and Baby Payment
You can apply from 24 weeks pregnant up to the day your baby is 6 months old. If you get the payment for your 1st child, you'll be paid £642.35. You'll get £321.20 for your 2nd or 3rd child, or any child after these. If you have a multiple birth, you get one extra payment of £321.20, called the multiple birth supplement. - Early Learning Payment
You can apply when your child is between 2 years and 3 years 6 months old. You'll get £250 for each child you can get the payment for. - School Age Payment
You'll get £267.65 for each child you can get the payment for.
Best Start Foods
You can apply when you're pregnant, or any time up to your child turning 3 years old. This goes up to 4 years old for a child who is over 2 years old when you apply.
If you are getting Healthy Start Vouchers for a child you apply for, you'll be moved from Healthy Start Vouchers to Best Start Foods.
The payments of Best Start Foods are:
- £18 every 4 weeks during pregnancy. The payment amount is per pregnancy. This means the payment amount is the same whether you're pregnant with one baby, or if you're having twins or triplets.
- £36 every 4 weeks from your child being born up until they're 1 year old.
- £18 every 4 weeks when your child is between the ages of 1 and 3 years old.
If you are eligible for Best Start Grants you may be eligible for A Good Time to Be 2.
Scottish Child Payment
Scottish Child Payment helps towards the costs of supporting your family. It's a weekly payment of £25 that you can get for every child under 16 you look after. You'll get the payment every 4 weeks if your application is successful.
Social Security Scotland Child Disability Payment
Child Disability Payment provides families with support for extra costs that a disabled child might have. This replaces the UK Government’s Disability Living Allowance for children.