Parents urged to check for £1,739 boost as children break up for summer holidays

With summer now well under way, parents across the country are trying to find time to keep their kids entertained while they're off school. However, it can be hard finding all the free time needed to keep a watch on your children 24/7.

Fortunately, there are a number of ways you could get extra financial support to help in the care of your kids. This can include government-funded childcare and benefit payments to help with the cost of childcare, worth up to nearly £2,000.

Below we look at what help could be available just in time for the school holidays. And it could make all the difference this summer as the kids enjoy weeks of time away from school.

Parents with a child aged three or four in England are entitled to 570 hours of government-funded childcare per year. Generally, this is broken down into 15 hours a week for 38 weeks.

While this can be made to last for more weeks with fewer hours each week, you may be required in some cases to have your child attend at least two and a half hours each week, depending on your local council's rules. In order to claim government-funded childcare, you can ask your local nursery or childcare provider if there is any space available for this and that you want to sign up.

Meanwhile, parents of children aged between three and four can get an extra 15 hours of funded childcare a week (with a total of 30 hours per week) if they are eligible. In order to qualify for the extra 15 hours, you need to:

The extra 15 hours will also be extended to children aged two from September 2024.

If you're currently working on a low income but don't meet the criteria for government-funded childcare or it doesn't cover your full childcare bill, you may be able to claim extra through Universal Credit.