Early years funding in England
An overview of early years funding in England since 2017-18 and Government plans for reform.

This briefing sets out how the Child Maintenance Service calculates the amount of maintenance payable under the 2012 statutory scheme.
Child maintenance: Calculations, variations and income (UK) (797 KB , PDF)
In the most recent statistics, which cover the 2021/22 financial year, the Department for Work and Pensions estimated there were around 2.5 million separated families in Great Britain, and 4.0 million children living in such families. Around 59% of these families were estimated to have a child maintenance arrangement. The Child Maintenance Service (CMS), which provides a statutory maintenance scheme, was estimated to be the sole organiser of maintenance for around 16% of separated families.
This briefing describes how the CMS calculates child maintenance under the 2012 Child Maintenance Scheme in Great Britain. Section 11 describes the similar, but separate, scheme in Northern Ireland.
Sections 7-10 set out policy debates on the 2012 child maintenance system and changes compared to the 1993 and 2003 schemes. This includes the decision to remove the “lifestyle inconsistent with income” ground for variation, the requirement of the person with care (of the child) to estimate the unearned income of the non-resident parent, and analysis on the impact of child maintenance on poverty.
There are five rates of maintenance that a non-resident parent can be required to pay, depending on their financial circumstances and, in some cases, those of their new partner (see Section 3 and Annex 1 for more information).
The CMS uses gross weekly income to calculate maintenance due. Gross weekly income is defined as income before any deductions for income tax and national insurance but after any contributions to approved personal or occupational pension schemes. Income information is either supplied to the CMS from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) or from the non-resident parent. If the non-resident parent’s gross weekly income is above £3,000, the person with care can apply to the court for additional maintenance.
For certain rates, the CMS calculation also takes account of the number of children the non-resident parent must pay child maintenance for and the average number of nights of shared care a week (where the child stays overnight with the non-resident parent).
Maintenance is reviewed each year, but parents should inform the CMS of a change in circumstance. The CMS booklet, How we work out child maintenance, provides a step-by-step guide to the calculation process. In large part, Sections 3 to 6 and Annex 1 of this briefing summarises the guidance. It should not, however, be considered a substitute for it when looking for detailed advice on specific cases. The CMS has also published a series of factsheets on applying for, managing, calculating and enforcing maintenance arrangements.
In cases where “special expenses” are incurred by the non-resident parent (such as fuel costs when travelling to a child’s home) or the non-resident parent gains “additional income” which is not captured by HMRC (for example “unearned” income from rents or savings), a request for variation can be made. These are described in section 6.
The Library has the following briefings which provide further information on the Child Maintenance Service:
Child maintenance: Calculations, variations and income (UK) (797 KB , PDF)
An overview of early years funding in England since 2017-18 and Government plans for reform.
There will be a Backbench business debate on support for childcare and the early years in the Commons chamber on Monday 16th October. This debate has been sponsored by Robin Walker MP.
An overview of kinship care in England, including the different types of kinship care arrangement, support available for kinship carers, issues, and Government policy.