Model every childcare arrangement
Add each child’s age, childcare type, weekly hours, hourly rate, weeks used and extra monthly costs.
UK childcare cost and funding planner
See the childcare bill after every modelled funding route.
Add every child, provider cost and attendance pattern, then compare funded hours, Tax-Free Childcare and the Universal Credit childcare element to see what the household pays each month.
One-time purchaseWorks offlineMultiple children and providersNo account
The actual light-mode dashboard, shown with the worked example.
From provider price to household cost
Put the funding routes into the same calculation
The planner works from each child’s hours and provider rate, then shows how funded hours and the selected support route change the monthly bill.
Apply age and term rules
See the England entitlement from the correct term boundary and Scotland’s funded early learning and childcare for eligible ages.
Calculate the government top-up
Apply the 20% top-up and annual cap per child, including the higher cap entered for a disabled child.
Estimate the childcare element
Apply 85% of eligible costs up to the household cap, then allocate the result back across the children.
Put the cost against take-home pay
Estimate household take-home and show what childcare represents as a percentage of it.
See when the bill may step down
Project the monthly cost as each child reaches funded-hours milestones and school age.
The funding routes side by side
Compare the two support pots before choosing one
Tax-Free Childcare and the Universal Credit childcare element cannot normally be used together. The planner estimates both where available and shows which produces the larger contribution for the costs entered.
- Automatic, Tax-Free Childcare or Universal Credit route
- Per-child free-hours value
- £100,000 income-cliff warning
- Single-parent or couple household tests
- Working, parental-leave and qualifying-benefit status
The rules differ across the UK
Keep the nation and limits visible
The planner calculates England’s funded-hours rules and Scotland’s modelled entitlement. Wales and Northern Ireland are signposted without applying England’s hours.
- Funded hours begin from the relevant term boundary
- Tax-Free Childcare and Universal Credit support remain UK-wide
- The £100,000 rule is applied where it affects the modelled route
- Provider extras and unfunded weeks stay in the bill
- Figures are an estimate, not an eligibility decision
- The planner does not apply to HMRC or a childcare provider
How it works
Download it once and open it in your browser
No installation, app store or account is required.
Add the children and childcare
Enter dates of birth, hours, rates, weeks used and provider extras.
Describe the household
Choose nation, household type, income, work status and support route.
Review the funded cost
Compare each child, the household total and the years-ahead projection.
Private by design
Your children, income and childcare figures stay on your device
The planner runs locally in your browser. It has no account, cloud database or analytics, and it does not upload names, dates of birth, income or provider costs.
It does not verify live eligibility or submit applications. Export a JSON backup when you want to move or preserve the plan.
Frequently asked
Before you buy
Which computers and browsers does it work on?
It works on Windows, Mac and Linux computers in a modern version of Chrome, Edge, Safari or Firefox.
Can Tax-Free Childcare and Universal Credit childcare support be used together?
They are normally alternative routes. Where both are available, the planner estimates each and identifies the larger contribution for the childcare costs entered.
Does it cover all four UK nations?
Tax-Free Childcare and the Universal Credit childcare element are modelled across the UK. England’s funded hours and Scotland’s funded early learning and childcare are calculated. Wales and Northern Ireland are signposted without applying England’s entitlement.
Are provider charges included?
Yes. Add extra monthly costs and choose the number of paid weeks, so meals, consumables and weeks outside a funded entitlement can remain visible.
Does it confirm eligibility or apply for support?
No. It is a planning estimate. HMRC, the relevant government service and the childcare provider confirm eligibility and applications.
What is included in the download?
The single-file UK Childcare Cost & Funding Planner app, a quick-start guide, and licence and support details. Etsy delivers the download after purchase.
See what the household pays after childcare support
Buy the UK Childcare Cost & Funding Planner on Etsy, download it once and use it without an account or subscription.
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