Continue your plan
Useful next calculations
When to use this calculator
- When you need a fast estimate before making a bigger decision.
- When you want to compare a few scenarios using the same assumptions.
- When you need a clearer starting point before using a detailed quote or formal document.
- When you want to sanity-check a figure you have seen elsewhere.
A realistic UK planning example
Use these sample inputs as a quick scenario test, then change one variable at a time to compare outcomes.
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Hours Per Week | 40 hours |
| Hourly Rate (£) | 5% |
| Weeks Per Year | 5 years |
| Free Funded Hours Per Week | 40 hours |
After entering these figures, review annual cost, monthly and tax-free childcare saving together rather than in isolation. Then rerun the tool with one input adjusted.
How to read your results
Annual Cost
The figure produced by this output for the inputs you entered. Change one variable at a time if you want to see what drives it.
Monthly
The figure produced by this output for the inputs you entered. Change one variable at a time if you want to see what drives it.
Tax-Free Childcare Saving
Review this figure alongside your gross income so you can understand deductions before the tax year closes. It is a planning estimate, not a filed return.
Net Annual
The figure produced by this output for the inputs you entered. Change one variable at a time if you want to see what drives it.
Method & assumptionsAuthoritative sources
This calculator estimates weekly, monthly, and annual childcare costs based on the number of sessions or hours required and the hourly or daily rate charged by your provider. You can apply free funded hours entitlements to see the net cost after government support. It also estimates potential Tax-Free Childcare savings based on the government's 20% top-up rule, subject to the annual £2,000 cap per child.
The calculator assumes standard term-time funded hours and does not account for holiday surcharges, registration fees, or meal charges that some providers levy separately. Eligibility for funded hours and Tax-Free Childcare depends on individual circumstances. Always confirm entitlement with your local authority or on the Childcare Choices government website.
Common mistakes
- !Using optimistic assumptions without testing a more cautious scenario.
- !Comparing outputs from different tools without checking that the inputs match.
- !Treating the result as a final quote instead of a planning estimate.
- !Rounding inputs too aggressively.
What to do next
- Try at least one more scenario so you can compare a realistic range.
- Use the related calculators below to cross-check the decision from another angle.
- Write down the key outputs from your best scenarios before you decide.
- If the result surprises you, change one input at a time to isolate the driver.
Frequently asked
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