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Early years education

All three and four year olds are entitled to up to five two-and-a-half hour daily sessions a week, for three terms each year, with a 'registered provider' such as a school, nursery or playgroup.

Some large employers provide registered early years education at the workplace. You can also use a registered childminder if they're part of an approved childminding network.

• Free early learning for three and four year olds (parents section)

• Search for a registered early education provider in your area Opens new window

Tax credits

Child Tax Credit

Child Tax Credit is a means-tested allowance for parents and carers of children or young people who are still in full-time education. Nine out of ten families with children qualify for Child Tax Credit.

Working Tax Credit

If you're working more than 16 hours a week and you're on a low income, you may be able to get Working Tax Credit too.

Working Tax Credit includes a specific element to support the cost of registered childcare for working parents. The childcare element can help with up to 80 per cent of your eligible childcare costs.

There are limits on the weekly costs you can claim. If you pay childcare for:

Time off and flexible working

Time off ('parental leave')

If you're a working parent, you can take up to 13 weeks' parental leave for each child until their fifth birthday (you get more than this if you have a disabled child). Your employer doesn't have to pay you when you take this leave, but they might as part of your employment package. To be entitled to this time off you must:

You normally have to take parental leave in blocks of one week or more, up to a maximum of four weeks a year for each child. But your employer may let you take parental leave in shorter blocks. If your child is entitled to Disability Living Allowance then you can take your leave a day at a time if you want.

If your employer thinks your absence would disrupt the business then they can usually postpone your leave for up to six months after the date you asked for.

Flexible working

Flexible working lets you ask your employer for a new working pattern to help you care for your child. You have a right to request a flexible working pattern if you've got a child aged 16 or under, or a disabled child under 18. Your employer has to consider your request seriously.

To have the right to ask for flexible working, you must:

You'll need to fill in an application form when you apply for flexible working. You can only make one application a year.

• Flexible working (employment section)

• Parental leave (parents section)

Job Grant

Job Grant is a one-off tax free payment you may get when you start working for at least 16 hours a week and stop getting benefits. You may be entitled to Job Grant if you start work for at least 16 hours a week, you do not have a partner working 16 hours or more per week and you expect your work to last for at least five weeks. You must also have been claiming one of the following benefits for at least 26 weeks before starting your new job:

You can find out more on Job Grant by following the link below:

• Job Grant

How child maintenance affects your benefits

If you (or your current partner who you live with) are claiming Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, the first £20 per week of any maintenance you receive will not affect those benefits. This arrangement has been extended across the Child Support Agency’s old and new schemes, and also applies if you arrange maintenance through a private agreement.

It is your responsibility to tell Jobcentre Plus about any maintenance you receive.

Find out more about maintenance and benefits:

• Child Maintenance Options Opens new window

• Contact Jobcentre Plus Opens new window

More useful links

• 'Expecting or bringing up children' benefits

• Flexible working and work-life balance (employment section)

• Check your rights as an employee (employment section)

• Information and advice for jobseekers (jobseekers section)