Funding for early childhood education and childcare

​​​​​​​​​​​​​Children aged 2 to 3 years old

​From 1 January 2026, your child can receive funding towards childcare costs in the school year they turn 3 years old.

If your child is eligible from January to August 2026, you can apply for up to £4,180. This amount reflects that the funding is not a full school year.

For children eligible for a full school year from the 1 September 2026, you’ll be able to apply for up to £6,270.

We’ll review the amount every year before the start of the school year.

The funding covers childcare payments you make during a full school year:

• it’s not restricted to 38 weeks of term time
  
• there are no minimum or maximum hours your child needs to attend
  

All children can receive the childcare funding, regardless of their parent’s income and employment or residential status. Funding is given per child. If you have twins for example, both children can receive funding.

Your childcare provider must be registered and can be a private nursery or childminder.

List of registered childcare providers​

You can apply if you get Income Support, regardless of your circumstances. If you already get childcare support from Income Support this will continue as usual. We’ll adjust your application with what you receive and make any payments you’re entitled to.

If you can’t afford to pay for childcare in advance, contact the Jersey Child Care Trust (JCCT). They may be able to help you with childcare costs and your application.

Ministerial decision for childcare funding scheme for 2 to 3 year olds, 2026 to 2027

The online application form will be available from the end of February 2026.

You can:

• apply at any time during the period your child is eligible. You should make your final application by 31 August of the end of that school year
• make up to 3 applications per school year or receive the full amount in 1 or 2 applications if you prefer. If your child is eligible between January 2026 and August 2026, you can apply up to 2 times
  
• apply for any amount in each application, at any time in the school year. Your applications should total up to the full amount of funding you’re eligible to receive or a smaller amount

For example, you can apply for all of the funding in 1 application or choose to spread it out during the school year between 3 applications.

​

To apply, you’ll need:

• your Social Security number and Tax Identification Number (TIN)
• your child’s Social Security number
• registered nursery or childminder name
• your bank details
• payment receipt from the nursery or childminder
  

If you don’t have a TIN, you can make a personal tax enquiry:

1. select change of circumstances
   
2. select other enquiry
3. enter in the text box 'Registering for TIN only, needed for childcare funding claim'

Make a personal tax enquiry

You don’t need to apply if your child goes to:

• Play and Learn at D’Auvergne
• ​Douet Dinkies at Plat Douet

These pilot schemes will continue for the school year 2025 to 2026.

Once your application is approved, you’ll receive payment within 4 weeks.

Tax and childcare funding

On your tax return you:

• can’t claim childcare tax relief on payments you made which we paid to you
• should not include the childcare funding payments as income

Receiving childcare funding could affect your ITIS effective rate or income tax. As school years run across 2 financial years, you may need to take this into account when completing your tax return.

For more details check the guidance on child care tax relief.

Finding a nursery or childminder

You need to arrange your own childcare.

Find nurseries and childminders from the list of registered childcare providers.

Children aged 3 to 4 years old

In the school year your child turns 4 years old, they can get up to 30 free nursery hours each week. This is for 38 weeks during term time only, starting in September.

The free nursery hours are called the Nursery Education Fund (NEF).

To get free nursery hours, your child must attend a NEF-registered childcare provider. You only pay if your child attends more than 30 hours per week.

When your child can receive free hours

Your child can receive free nursery hours in the school year they turn 4 years old.

The following year, they will start Reception which is free. Find out how to register for a primary school reception place.

Where you can get a place​

You can apply for a funded nursery place at:

• public school nurseries
• NEF-registered private nurseries

You can’t get free nursery hours from a childminder.

School nursery place

Most of our public primary schools have a nursery class.

These nurseries provide care to children in the year before they start Reception. They are open term time only.

Contact the school or find out how to register and apply for a school nursery place.

Private nursery place

Some nurseries are open outside of school hours and all year. Contact them for more details and for available spaces.

Find a list of private nurseries​.

Childcare help if you’re on Income Support

You may be able to receive help paying for childcare if you’re on Income Support when you:

• are working
• are studying
• have an illness or disability

Find more on how your childcare benefit made up​ or contact Income Support.

Children aged under 2

As a new parent you have employment rights and can receive financial support.

Find more details on parental rights and financial assistance​.