Parents and Carers can contact the Islington Family Information Service (FIS) for free, impartial information, advice and guidance for families with children aged 0-25, including childcare and free early education, play and things to do, family support and money advice. Their phone number is 020 7527 5959 or you can email to fis@islington.gov.uk 

Bright Start Islington: Start for Life, children’s centres and Family Hubs covers services for under-fives and their families and includes their Start for Life and Family Hubs offer.

https://www.islington.gov.uk/children-and-families/bright-start-islington-start-for-life-and-family-hubs

Help with childcare costs

 You can get help paying for childcare if it’s provided by an ‘approved childcare’ provider. These are:

• a registered childminder, nanny, play scheme, nursery or club
• a childminder or nanny with a registered childminder agency or childcare agency
• a registered school
• a home care worker working for a registered home care agency

https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs?step-by-step-nav=d78aeaf6-1747-4d72-9619-f16efb4dd89d

You may be able to get free childcare if you’re working

If you live in England, you can apply for free childcare. The amount you can get depends on:

• your child’s age and circumstances
• whether you’re working (employed, self-employed, or a director)
• your income (and your partner’s income, if you have one)
• your immigration status

To check if you are eligible, click here https://www.gov.uk/check-eligible-free-childcare-if-youre-working

If you’ve already registered, you can sign in to your childcare account.

If you claim certain benefits, you may be eligible for free education and childcare for 2 year olds.

If you are a student, you can claim for a Student Childcare Grant

To apply for a Childcare Grant follow these steps:

1. Apply online as part of your main student finance application.

2. Send in evidence. You’ll be told what evidence you need to provide when you apply.

3. You’ll be sent a letter telling you how much Childcare Grant you’ll get.

4. Create an online account with the Childcare Grant Payment Service (CCGPS). You’ll get an email telling you how to set one up. Your grant will be paid into this account.

Use the paper form instead if you:

• have already applied for student finance but didn’t apply for a childcare grant at the same time
• want to apply for another child

You can download the form from the student finance form finder.

https://www.gov.uk/childcare-grant/how-to-claim

If you are working, you may be able to claim Tax-Free Childcare.

Click here to check if you are eligible:

https://www.gov.uk/get-tax-free-childcare

We’ve also put together some additional useful links below.