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Types of childcare that qualify as registered or approved

You can apply for the Childcare Grant if you use any of the following types of childcare:

• childcare provided by a childminder, nursery or play scheme registered with the Care Standards Inspectorate for Wales
• childcare provided by out-of-school-hours clubs, located on school grounds and run by a school or local authority
• childcare provided in the child's own home by a care worker or nurse from an agency registered by the Care Standards Inspectorate for Wales
• childcare provided by an approved foster carer (the care must be for a child who is not being fostered by the foster carer)
• childcare provided in the child's own home by a carer approved under the Approval of Child Care Providers Scheme

Childcare that does not qualify

Even if they are registered or approved, you won't be able to get the Childcare Grant if you use a childcare provider who is:

• your partner 
• a relative of your child and providing care in your child's own home
• a relative of your child, is approved under the Approval of Child Care Providers Scheme, is providing care away from your child's home, and is only caring for children he or she is related to

A relative of the child means a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother or sister related by blood or marriage - or a person with a strong relationship to the child (for example, someone playing the part of a parent to their partner's children).

If you have any questions about whether someone counts as a 'relative', contact Student Finance England or your local authority - whichever one you're applying to.

• Contact Student Finance England

• Contact your local authority (student finance applications) Opens new window

Back to 'Extra help for students with children'

• Childcare Grant and other help for students with children