Eligibility
To qualify for Childcare Grant the following must apply :
- the student is studying a full-time undergraduate, Initial Teacher Training (ITT) or Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) course
- their child is under 15, or under 17 if they have special educational needs
- they're eligible for undergraduate student finance based on their household income
- they’re a permanent resident in England
- the children are financially dependent on the student
- their childcare provider is on the Ofsted Early Years Register or General Childcare Register - they should confirm this with their provider
- if their child is cared for at home, the carer can’t be a relative and must be registered with an appropriate body
- they or their partner are not claiming the childcare element of Working Tax Credits or the childcare element of Universal Credit
- they or their partner are not claiming the HMRC tax free childcare or NHS funded childcare grants
If the childcare provider is in Wales, Northern Ireland, or Scotland, they must be registered or approved by the regulatory body that inspects childcare in the country they’re based in.
Childcare Grant may be available if the childcare provider is:
- a relative of the child and is:
- approved under the Approval of Home Childcare Providers Scheme in Wales, or the Approval of Home Childcare Providers Scheme in Northern Ireland
- providing care away from the child’s home
However, if the childcare provider is only caring for children they are related to, the student will not be eligible for Childcare Grant.
