During this time of increasing financial pressures for families, many working parents are struggling with everyday costs, including Childcare Costs.

­Many parents are unaware of government financial assistance with childcare costs which will support working families to get into and remain in work.

Different types of help towards childcare are available to working parents through the benefits system, government support schemes or tax relief. The best form of help will be determined by your circumstances, such as whether you are working or self-employed, single or a couple, and how much your childcare costs are.

Different eligibility criteria are in place for the different forms of help towards your childcare costs.  You should read the criteria for each scheme or benefit carefully, as they may be different but the most common criteria to qualify may specify:

• working a minimum number of hours;
• maximum age of the child (for example, children under 12 years old, or under 17 years old if the child has a disability);
• household income not to exceed a certain amount (for example, if one parent earns £100,000 per annum);

You can only receive help with childcare costs that are being paid to Registered or Approved childcare providers like ourselves here at Moira Primary School.

The amount of financial support you may be entitled to receive in each scheme will depend on your circumstances.  It can be complicated to work out what is best for you, so it is important to get advice.

Family Support NI has produced this animation to give parents an overview of the types of financial support available to parents and where to get help to work out which option is best for them: www.familysupportni.gov.uk