DEVON County Council advises that Government support is available to help you pay for childcare, whether you have toddlers or teens.

If you are a working parent or carer, you can get up to £2,000 a year per child to help with the costs of childminders, nurseries and nannies, play schemes, before and after school clubs and holiday clubs.

Depending on the age of your child and your circumstances, the Government also offer to fund either 15 or 30 hours childcare per week.

All three and four-year-olds can get 570 hours funded childcare per year.

It is usually taken as 15 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year (during school term-time), but you can choose to take fewer hours over more weeks. 

Some two-year-olds are also eligible for 15 hours funded childcare, depending on their family's circumstances.

If you work at least 16 hours a week and earn at least the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage (up to £100,000 per year) you may be entitled to up to 30 hours per week of funded childcare, for your three or four-year-old for 38 weeks of the year (or fewer hours over more weeks).

Visit the Childcare Choices website at www.childcarechoices.gov.uk to find out how much you could get towards your childcare costs and check whether you’re eligible.

For more information visit: www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/free-childcare-2-year-olds .