Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) is a childcare top-up for working parents. It can be used to help pay for accredited holiday clubs, childminders, or sports activities. TFC enables parents and carers to access childcare during the school holidays, saving them money. It is estimated that there are 1.3 million working families who are eligible for TFC in the UK, however only a small percentage are making use of the scheme. Around 75% of families are losing out on this support.

TFC is available for children aged up to 11, or 17 if the child has a disability. You can signpost families to Childcare Choices, so they can see if they are eligible. You can find out more about the scheme here.

Many parents don’t realise that TFC can be saved up on their accounts. Even if childcare is not required throughout the school terms, there is still the option to save up funds which could be used for holiday clubs or out of school care. As half term approaches, it is a good opportunity to remind families of these schemes so they can plan for the upcoming holidays.