Paying for Childcare
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 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.