On this page: Information about paying for childcare services in the Borough of Swindon.
Swindon Borough Council administers funded early education to support the cost of part-time childcare for parents of three- and four-year-olds in Swindon. There are a number of additional sources of support for parents to help with the cost of childcare which are administered by other agencies.
Working Parents
Many working parents are able to access financial support for childcare through schemes administered by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC). These are:
Childcare Element of the Working Tax Credit
Information about funding to support childcare costs as well as child tax credit and working tax credit is available in the leaflet WTC5 which can be downloaded from the HMRC website (www.hmrc.gov.uk)
Employer Supported Childcare
Information about ways that employers can help support childcare costs including information about childcare vouchers (salary sacrifice) is available in a downloadable leaflet published on the HMRC website - Employer Supported Childcare (www.hmrc.gov.uk/childcare/childcarefactsheet.htm).
In addition, there are occasions when Job Centre Plus may be able to help with childcare costs for parents who are undertaking training authorised by Jobcentre Plus or returning to work. Job Centre Plus personal advisers can give more information.
Students in Further Education
There are a number of ways that childcare for parents in further education can be funded, depending on circumstances such as age and income. These include the following.
The Care to Learn Scheme
This supports childcare costs for young learners under the age of 20. Please see the Direct Gov website - Care to Learn (www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/14To19/MoneyToLearn/Caretolearn/index.htm).
Swindon College
Swindon College publishes a financial information for students booklet, including support for childcare through the Learner Support Fund (Access Fund) - please see the Swindon College website (www.swindon-college.ac.uk).
New College
Students at New College should refer to the New College website - Student Services (www.newcollege.ac.uk/student-services/index.html).
Students in Higher Education
Students entering higher education for the first time can make an application for funding for their course at Student Finance England - Please see the Direct Gov website - Student Finance (www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/index.htm).
Extra help for students with children may be available as part of the funding package - for more details, please see the Direct Gov website - Childcare Grant and Other Help for Students with Children(www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/Extrahelp/DG_171503)
Other Financial Assistance
Ninety per cent of parents are entitled to make a claim for child tax credit. A downloadable PDF file is available from the HMRC website - Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit leaflet (www.hmrc.gov.uk/leaflets/wtc1.pdf).
Many sources of additional financial support for parents, including information about Child Benefit, the Sure Start Maternity Grant and Child Trust Funds are summarised in a leaflet which is available as a downloadable PDF file leaflet from the HMRC website - Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit leaflet - Other Types of Help (www.hmrc.gov.uk/leaflets/wtc6.pdf).
The Money Advice Service also offers advice- please see the Money Advice Service website - Parents' Guide to Money (http://parents.moneyadviceservice.org.uk).
Further Information
Please see also Choosing Registered Childcare.