A new Defence scheme to transform support for forces families
with young children will be rolled out across Scotland, Wales and
Northern Ireland from September 2026, the Defence Secretary has
announced today.
This major boost for UK Armed Forces families will save forces
families living in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
up to £6,000 per year for each child and will help with the cost
of living as they serve to protect the nation.
It will be delivered through the Ministry of Defence's existing
Early Years childcare reimbursement scheme and will ensure that
eligible working UK Armed Forces families receive the same
Government funded childcare support as forces families in
England.
This government promised to renew the nation's contract with
those who serve, and this support is another major step to
deliver on that pledge. Childcare is cited as one of several
factors affecting Armed Forces retention and morale and this
government is on a mission to fix the recruitment crisis. The
announcement was made by Defence Secretary MP on a visit to meet families
at Dreghorn Barracks, Edinburgh.
The early years childcare offer currently differs in Scotland,
Wales and Northern Ireland to that available to UK Armed
Forces families in England and overseas. Today the government is
taking action to change that by providing a reimbursement of
childcare costs for eligible working UK Armed Forces families
with children aged 9 months until they reach 3 years old in
Scotland and Wales, and from 9 months to 4 years in Northern
Ireland.
The scheme recognises the commitment and uniqueness of service
life and the dedication of service families who can be assigned
anywhere in the UK or overseas. This government is delivering on
the commitment to support service families wherever they live and
work.
Defence Secretary MP said:
"Our Armed Forces families are at the heart of our nation's
security. With demands on defence rising, from the conflict in
the Middle East to growing Russian aggression, 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.
"We are making good on our promise to Armed Forces families
- supporting them as they support our dedicated military
personnel defending the UK and our allies. Our message to the
Armed Forces community is clear: this government is on your
side."
This is part of the wider support that MOD has delivered to
service families since July 2024, including a new housing
strategy which will make homes fit for heroes, the biggest pay
rise in 20 years and putting the Armed Forces Covenant into law
through the Armed Forces Bill introduced this year.
Through the new scheme, MOD will reimburse the difference in
early years childcare costs for eligible working families. Aimed
at working families, where both parents are employed and meet the
income thresholds required to access an active Tax-Free Childcare
account, the scheme could save forces families thousands.
Hundreds of families in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are
expected to be eligible for the scheme, which follows feedback
from forces families on the cost of childcare.
The scheme will be rolled out from September 2026, giving
eligible families time to prepare and explore suitable childcare
options.
MOD is committed to supporting forces families no matter
where they live. Defence will continue to work closely with the
devolved governments, and further details will be set out for
eligible families in the coming months.
