Childcare for under 5s

Help with Choosing Childcare

Unsure what childcare is suited to you and your child’s needs? Please see our leaflet on childcare (PDF, 1.9MB) for more information about what choices are out there in Leeds, from nursery schools to playgroups to childminders, all offering benefits for your children and reassurance and flexibility to you.

You can search for childcare using our childcare search.

All childcare providers on our search engine are registered with Ofsted. For more information about Ofsted’s role in regulating childcare, please see the Ofsted website.

Wraparound childcare

Wraparound childcare is childcare that 'wraps around' the conventional school day, either before or after school, during term time, for school aged children. It can also refer to provision in the school holidays. This provision can be offered by schools and private, voluntary and independent (PVI) providers (including childminders and early years settings) and can be run on a school site or at another setting in the area.

Wraparound care does not usually require parents to pick their children up from school and drop them off at another location.

Wraparound care can often, but not exclusively be referred to as breakfast clubs and after-school clubs, and are an opportunity to extend social and learning opportunities for children, to keep children stimulated and entertained, whether this is done in a school, private nursery or childminder setting. The sessions usually cost a nominal fee per day and are charged by the session.

Many of our Leeds providers already offer wrap around activities before and after the school day.

Find wraparound care in your local area

Help With Your Childcare Costs

Visit Childcare Choices for lots of information on what options are available for families to help towards the cost of your childcare. There is also a handy Childcare Calculator to aid you in working out the best option financially for you and your family.

Further information on the Free Early Education Entitlement (FEEE) for eligible 2 year olds and 3/4 year olds, is available via the links at the bottom of this page. Alternatively you can contact the Family Information Service by:

Phone

0113 378 9700

Email

Tax-free childcare

Tax-free childcare is for working families:

Including the self-employed, in the UK

Earning under £100k and an average of £167 per week (equal to 16 hours at the National Minimum or Living Wage) each over three months

Who aren't receiving Tax Credits, Universal Credit or childcare vouchers

With children aged 0-11 (or 0-16 if they have a disability)

For every £8 you pay into an online account, the government will add an extra £2, up to £2,000 per child per year

You can receive up to £2,000 per child per year - that's up to £500 every three months. If you have a child with a disability, you can receive up to £4,000 per child - that's up to £1,000 every three months.

You can use Tax-Free Childcare all year round to spend on regulated childcare, such as:

Childminders, nurseries and nannies

Before and after-school clubs and holiday clubs

For more information about how to use tax-free childcare, please see how to use Tax-Free Childcare.