Find out about changes to our services and Christmas opening times on our Festive information page. To find out when your bin will be collected over the festive period, visit Changes to County Durham bin collections at Christmas.

Due to maintenance, the following systems will be unavailable from 11.45am on Tuesday 24 December until 8.00am on Thursday 2 January: our online Council Tax, business rates and housing benefit services, and our welfare assistance form. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Help with your childcare costs

In April 2024, the government introduced changes to help parents to return to work, or increase their working hours, following parental leave. This includes providing increased funded childcare for eligible parents with children aged nine months to four years. View Changes to nursery and pre-school childcare for more information.

The government has also recently announced an increase in the number of wraparound childcare places available. View Wraparound childcare for more information.

Happy child laughing and playing on an autumn day

15 hours funded childcare for three and four year olds

Happy child blowing bubbles in school garden

Funded childcare for working parents

Closeup portrait of a little boy in leaves

Funded childcare sessions for two year olds (Play and Learn)

Close up portrait of a smiling baby girl

Tax-free childcare