Education and childcare
Childcare advice
-
Childcare and Family Information Service - offers
information and guidance to families and carers with children. They
provide information about the different types of childcare
available for both pre-school and school aged children and they can
help you find the most suitable care for your child.
Funding assistance with childcare
As a parent or carer there are a number of different sources of
financial support to help you.
-
Sure Start Maternity Grant - available to help people with the
extra costs involved in having a new baby. It is available to
people who are getting Income Support, Child Tax Credit or Working
Tax Credit and you can claim this grant at any time from the 29th
week of your pregnancy until your child is three months old.
- Child
Benefit Enquiry Line offers tax-free payment that you can claim
for your child, available to anyone who qualifies regardless of
income or savings.
- Tax Credit
Helpline can advise you on what payments you might be able to
claim from the government. Call 0845 300 3900.
- Child Trust
Fund - Children born on or after 1 September 2002 will receive
a £250 voucher to start their account. This savings and
investment account for children belongs to the child and can't be
touched until they turn 18, so that children have some money behind
them to start their adult life.
- Healthy start -
Families on certain benefits can get free vouchers each week which
can be exchanged for milk, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables and infant
formula milk. Healthy Start replaces the Welfare Food Scheme.
- Childcare
vouchers -This scheme is a voluntary arrangement that allows
employees of participating companies the opportunity to exchange
part of their monthly cash salary for childcare vouchers, subject
to certain qualifying criteria.
Education grants and benefits
-
Education maintenance allowance - If your child remains in
education after they are legally permitted to leave school, they
might be entitled to a weekly payment of up to £30 per week
based on the total taxable income of your household.
-
Free school meals - If you receive benefits, your child could
be eligible for free school meals.
-
School clothing grants - You may be eligible for a grant
towards the cost of purchasing school clothing if your child is
under the age of sixteen and you receive Income Support or
Income-Based Jobseekers Allowance.
-
Music tuition - Free music tuition is available to all pupils
doing SQA courses and for those whose parents are on Income Support
or Income-Based Jobseekers Allowance (subject to availability and
selection procedure).
