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<p>The department recognises the value of parents continuing in education and provides
a range of support for students in further or higher education to support them with
childcare.</p><p>Students starting a doctoral degree on or after 1 August 2018 are
eligible to receive a postgraduate doctoral loan of up to £27,892 to help with course
fees and living costs, including childcare.</p><p>In addition to the above childcare
support for doctoral students, all parents are eligible for the universal 15 hours
of free early education which is available to all 3 and 4-year-olds regardless of
family circumstances.</p><p>Working parents of 3 and 4-year-olds may also be eligible
for an additional 15 hours of free childcare if they earn the equivalent of 16 hours
a week at national minimum/living wage and under £100,000 per year. Students who participate
in paid work in addition to their studies and meet the income requirements will be
eligible for the additional hours.</p><p>Parents who meet these income criteria may
also be able to receive support from Tax-Free Childcare, which can be worth up to
£2,000 per year for children aged 0 to 11, or up to £4,000 per year for disabled children
aged 0 to 16.</p><p>Further information on the childcare offers available to parents
can be found at: <a href="https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/</a>.</p><p>The
department remains committed to improving the cost, choice, and availability of childcare,
and we continue to look at ways to make childcare more affordable and to encourage
families to use government-funded support they are entitled to.</p><p> </p>
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