Navigating nursery childcare costs can be challenging, but the UK government continues to offer robust support to help families and nurseries manage expenses. In this update, we break down the latest government support available as of 2026 for Scotland, England, and Wales.
Scotland
Free Early Learning and Childcare (ELC)
- Who’s Eligible: All 3 and 4-year-olds are entitled to up to 1,140 hours of free early learning and childcare each year.
- Flexibility: This works out at around 22 hours a week if used across the full year, or up to 30 hours a week if used only during school term time.
- 2-Year-Olds: Some 2-year-olds remain eligible if their families meet certain criteria. These include being on benefits like Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, or Universal Credit, or being in work with a monthly household take-home pay of £885 or less.
Tax-Free Childcare
- How It Works: Parents can claim a 20% government top-up on childcare costs, effectively paying only 80p for every £1 spent.
- Limits: Up to £2,000 per year, per child (or £4,000 if the child has a disability).
- Eligibility: Both parents (or a single parent) must be in work, and neither can earn more than £100,000 a year.
Additional Initiatives
- The Scottish Government continues to review childcare policies to ensure that families can access the support they need, with pilot projects in certain localities aimed at further easing the childcare journey for families.
England
Free Early Education Entitlement
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What has changed: England's offer has expanded significantly since late 2025. Eligible working parents can now get 30 hours of funded childcare a week for children from 9 months old up to school age — not just 3 and 4-year-olds as in earlier years.
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How It's Used: The funded hours are typically taken as 30 hours a week over 38 weeks of the year (term time), though providers may allow the hours to be spread out further across the year.
Universal Entitlement for 3 and 4-Year-Olds
- Standard Provision: Every 3 and 4-year-old in England is still entitled to 570 hours a year of free early education (around 15 hours a week over 38 weeks), regardless of parents' work status.
Tax-Free Childcare & Universal Credit Childcare Element
- Tax-Free Childcare: Available to all eligible families, providing the same 20% top-up on childcare expenses as in previous years.
- Universal Credit: Families receiving Universal Credit can still claim up to 85% of childcare costs, with the maximum monthly amount families can reclaim rising in April 2026 to £1,071.09 for one child and £1,836.16 for two or more children.
Wales
Free Childcare for 3- and 4-Year-Olds
- What’s Offered: Working parents of 3 and 4-year-olds can get up to 30 hours a week of combined nursery education and childcare — at least 10 hours of nursery education plus up to 20 hours of childcare — for up to 48 weeks a year, covering some school holidays as well as term time.
- Eligibility: Both parents (or a single parent) must be employed, earning on average at least the equivalent of 16 hours a week at National Minimum or Living Wage, with income no more than £100,000 a year.
Flying Start Programme
- Focus: In designated disadvantaged areas, the Flying Start programme continues to provide free childcare for 2- to 3-year-olds, offering around 12.5 hours per week during term time.
- Objective: This initiative aims to give young children from lower-income families a strong educational foundation.
- *Expansion towards Universal Coverage: The Welsh Government announced a further £55 million investment in June 2026 to accelerate the rollout of 12.5 hours a week of funded childcare to all 2-year-olds. Check with your local authority website to know when they are rolling out this expanded provision.
Tax-Free Childcare & Universal Credit
- Availability: Just like in Scotland and England, eligible families in Wales can benefit from Tax-Free Childcare and the Universal Credit childcare element, ensuring broader access to childcare funding.
Final Thoughts
As of 2026, government support for childcare in the UK has moved on meaningfully since our last update — most notably England's extension of the 30-hours offer down to 9-month-olds, the April 2026 increase to Universal Credit childcare limits, and Wales's steady progress toward universal Flying Start coverage for 2-year-olds. Whether you're a parent balancing work and childcare or a nursery optimising enrolment, it's worth checking the latest eligibility criteria directly, since income thresholds and hours can change from term to term.
For the most accurate and personalised information, we recommend visiting your local authority’s website or contacting the relevant government department. Stay informed, and let Nuuri help you navigate the childcare landscape with ease!
For a detailed breakdown of nursery costs based on your specific needs, use our Nuuri Cost Calculator
To learn more about what Nursery costs in the UK, see our Nursery Cost Guide.
For more information on what to look for when searching for a Nursery, please visit our Nursery Search Checklist.
For advice on nursery waiting lists, check out our Nursery Waiting Lists Guide.
