Paying for Childcare

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Upcoming changes to Childcare support

As announced in the Spring Budget 2023 the financial support that is available to parents to help with the cost of childcare is increasing. These include major changes to make it easier for parents with childcare responsibilities to move into or take on more paid work. Starting from April 2024, existing childcare support will be expanded in phases. By, September 2025, working parents with children aged 9 months old to when they start school will be eligible for 30 hours childcare support.

Free early education for 2 year olds | Oxfordshire County Council

Some 2 year olds are eligible for 15 hours free early education funding. Information around eligibility for this funding can be found in the link above.

Free early education for eligible working families of 2 year olds

Information about the new 15 hour funded childcare for eligible working families of 2 year olds

Free early education for 3 - 4 year olds

All 3 to 4-year-olds in Oxfordshire are eligible for the universal 570 hours free early education. (Universal) There is no need to apply for a code.

Some 3 and 4 year olds are eligible for extended funding (30 hours), 15 universal hours and an additional 15 hours of funded childcare. More information on eligibility can be found in the link above.

Tax-Free Childcare

You can get up to £500 every 3 months (up to £2,000 a year) for each of your children to help with the costs of childcare. This goes up to £1,000 every 3 months if a child is disabled (up to £4,000 a year).


If you get Tax-Free Childcare, you’ll set up an online childcare account for your child. For every £8 you pay into this account, the government will pay in £2 to use to pay your provider.

You can get Tax-Free Childcare at the same time as 30 hours free childcare if you’re eligible for both.

Universal Credit and Childcare

You may be able to claim back up to 85% of your childcare costs if you’re eligible for Universal Credit.

Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF): Information for Families

The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme helps boost the physical and mental health and wellbeing of children and young people. It provides fun activities and access to a healthy meal for children in Reception to Year 11 who are in receipt of benefits-related free school meals.

Oxfordshire's Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme is funded by the Department for Education and delivers daily free holiday activity sessions and a healthy hot meal for children in Reception to Year 11 who are in receipt of benefits-related free school meals.

These activities take place in the long school holidays; the 2 week Winter holidays, the 2 week Spring holidays and the 6 week Summer holidays.

Working Families

If you’re expecting a new child in your family, you probably have lots of questions about maternity leave and pay, benefits, paternity rights and rights to request flexible working. The working families website can support you in answering these questions.

Childcare Choices

Government help with childcare costs for parents. Whether you have toddlers or teens, you could get support.

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