Help with the costs of childcare in universal credit is done by including the childcare element in the calculation of your maximum universal credit award. 

Childcare vouchers can only be used to pay for childcare from a registered or approved provider.

Each childcare scheme has different qualifying rules and often the amount you receive can be different. Sometimes if you claim help from one scheme, that can stop you claiming help from other schemes or it may reduce the amount you can claim. You may need to work out which scheme is best for you. ...

Childcare vouchers are a type of employer-supported childcare (employer-supported childcare) scheme. This page explains who can claim childcare vouchers. 

This page explains how much you can save by taking childcare vouchers offered by your employer. Different rules apply depending on when you joined your employer’s scheme. The rules for claiming childcare vouchers changed from 4 October 2018 – see our Childcare vouchers page for more information.

You can get some free childcare places in most parts of the UK, although the arrangements are different across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. You can contact your local Family Information Service for more information about free childcare hours and childcare in your area.