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Childcare Grant and Parents’ Learning Allowance


The student eligibility and entitlement information we will cover is based on our current understanding and some policy details could change based on final domicile-specific regulations coming into force.

Depending on your circumstances, you could get extra help if you have dependent children.

We'll consider your household income, marital status and the number of children you have. This will help us work out if you can get extra help and how much you can get.

COVID-19 update

If you’re having to study online from home in 2021 to 2022 rather than attending your course on campus at your university or college, you’ll still be entitled to any Dependants’ Grants you qualify for.

Childcare Grant

You can receive a Childcare Grant (CCG) towards the cost of your childcare if you have children in registered and approved childcare.

In academic year 2021/22 you can receive up to 85% of your childcare costs up to a maximum of:

  • £179.64 a week for one child; or
  • £307.95 a week for two or more children.

You won’t qualify for this grant if either you or your partner claims the childcare element of Working Tax Credits, Universal Credit, Tax-free Childcare from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) or NHS funded childcare grants.

We'll consider your household income, marital status and how many children you have to work out if you're entitled to CCG and how much you can get.

If you don’t have a childcare provider at the time you apply, you can still be assessed for CCG but this will be capped at £138.31 per week or 85% of actual costs, whichever is lower. A reassessment will be carried out using your full costs once you supply childcare provider details.

How to apply

You can apply for CCG by completing a Childcare Grant Application Form (CCG1). If you indicate on your student finance application that you want to apply for Childcare Grant we'll send you a copy of the form.

Fill in the CCG1 Form with details about your:

  • children
  • registered childcare provider’s details and
  • accurately estimated weekly costs.

It’s important that you also remember to sign and date the form.

You must also include evidence of your child dependants.

You and your childcare provider must confirm actual childcare costs – by sending in a Childcare Costs Confirmation (CCG2). This will be sent to you at 3 points during the year, usually after 8 and 21 weeks from the start of the academic year and again at the end of your course. It’s important that a correctly completed form is returned to us within 6 weeks of the CCG2 being received or your childcare will be removed.

The CCG2 will be sent to you when you need to complete it. Make sure that your forms are also signed and dated by your childcare provider(s).

How is it paid?

CCG is paid directly into your bank account at the start of each term. This will only happen after you’ve registered on your course and your attendance has been confirmed by your university or college.

You then need to ensure that you pay your chosen registered childcare provider(s).

Avoiding a grant overpayment

To avoid a CCG overpayment, be as accurate as possible when completing the CCG1 form. If you have a childcare provider, you're asked to provide estimates but if you overestimate, any overpayment will be deducted from future payments.

If you’ve left your course, you’ll need to repay any grant overpayment. We’ll contact you to arrange repayment.

Parents’ Learning Allowance

Parents’ Learning Allowance (PLA) is extra help intended to cover some of the additional costs incurred by students who have children.

In academic year 2021/22 the maximum amount you can get for PLA is £1,821 per year. You can only apply for PLA if you have one or more children that are financially dependent on you, regardless of their age.

We'll consider your household income, marital status and how many children you have to work out if you're entitled to PLA and how much you can get.

You’ll need to provide evidence of your child dependants.

Does it need to be paid back?

No, unless you leave your course, overestimate your financial commitments or there’s a change in your circumstances which results in an overpayment.

How is it paid?

PLA is paid directly into your bank account at the start of each term. This will only happen after you’ve registered on your course and your attendance has been confirmed by your university or college.

Evidence of your child dependants

If you apply for CCG or PLA you'll need to send in the following evidence:

Evidence of your child dependants

Submit a copy of one of the following:

  • birth certificate for each child;
  • certificate of Naturalisation for each child; or
  • Home Office documentation confirming your children's names and dates of birth.

Proof your children are dependent on you

Submit a copy of one of the following:

  • your most recent Tax Credits or Universal Credit Award Notice naming all your children; or
  • all pages of your most recent Child Benefit letter naming all children.

Anything else you should know?

If you have completed your student finance application, and now want to apply for PLA and/or CCG you should complete the application for Dependants' Grants form below.

If you're applying for Childcare Grant you also need to complete a Childcare Grant form.


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