A new childcare support scheme for Armed Forces families will be rolled out across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from September 2026, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.
The scheme, announced by John Healey, is designed to bring childcare support in line with provision already available to forces families in England and overseas.
Under the plans, eligible working families could save up to £6,000 per child each year through reimbursements covering the gap between existing regional provision and the government-funded childcare offer in England.
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The support will be delivered through the Ministry of Defence’s Early Years childcare reimbursement scheme and will apply to families with children aged from nine months to three years in Scotland and Wales, and up to four years in Northern Ireland.
The move follows concerns from service families about the cost of childcare and its impact on retention and morale. Officials said the scheme aims to provide more consistent support for personnel who are frequently relocated across the UK.
Healey said: “Our Armed Forces families are at the heart of our nation’s security. With demands on defence rising, we are asking more of our military, and it is right that we continue to step up our support for them.
“This transformative offer will ensure more military families get the childcare support they need, no matter where they are posted.”
To qualify, families must meet criteria including both parents being in work and eligible for a Tax-Free Childcare account. The Ministry of Defence said hundreds of families are expected to benefit from the scheme when it launches.
The announcement forms part of a wider package of measures aimed at improving service life, including housing reforms and pay increases, with further details on eligibility and rollout expected in the coming months.
