UK Childcare During School Holidays: Funding and Options

UK school holidays create a recurring childcare challenge for working parents. The funding support available depends on income, employment status, and the child's free school meal eligibility. This article covers the main options and the funding routes that apply.

Registered holiday clubs

Holiday clubs registered with Ofsted (or equivalent in the devolved nations) qualify for Tax-Free Childcare funding. Clubs typically offer full-day sessions during school holidays. Booking ahead is often required because popular clubs fill quickly.

Holiday Activities and Food programme

HAF provides funded holiday activities and meals for children eligible for free school meals in England. Programmes run during Easter, summer, and Christmas school holidays. Local authorities publish lists of participating providers each holiday period.

Registered childminders

Registered childminders can provide holiday care for individual children or small groups. Costs and availability vary; Tax-Free Childcare can typically be used to pay registered childminders.

Universal Credit childcare element

Eligible Universal Credit claimants can reclaim a percentage of childcare costs through the childcare element of Universal Credit. The maximum amounts are set by the DWP and reviewed periodically.

Registered holiday clubs in detail

Holiday clubs registered with Ofsted (or equivalent in the devolved nations) qualify for Tax-Free Childcare funding. Clubs typically offer full-day sessions during school holidays. Booking ahead is often required because popular clubs fill quickly.

Holiday clubs vary widely in offer. Some focus on sports (football, swimming, multi-sports); some focus on arts and crafts; some offer general childcare with mixed activities. Costs typically range from GBP 20 to GBP 60 per day depending on location and offer.

Capacity is often limited. Popular clubs in school holiday weeks book up months in advance. Booking 2 to 3 months ahead for summer holidays and weeks ahead for shorter half-terms is typical.

Tax-Free Childcare can be used to pay for registered holiday clubs. The parent pays the club via the Tax-Free Childcare account; the government top-up applies. For a family using 4 weeks of summer holiday club at GBP 35 per day × 5 days × 4 weeks = GBP 700, the Tax-Free Childcare top-up is GBP 175 (within the per-child cap).

Some local authorities operate their own holiday club programmes through schools or community centres. These are typically lower cost and can be subsidised for lower-income families. Council websites list the local provision.

Holiday Activities and Food programme in detail

HAF provides funded holiday activities and meals for children eligible for free school meals in England. The programme is delivered by local authorities and providers across England, funded by the Department for Education.

HAF typically provides: a healthy meal each day; activities ranging from sports to arts to outdoor adventures; opportunities for socialising with peers; learning and skill-building activities. The standard offer is 4 hours per day, 4 days per week, for 4 weeks of summer holidays plus 1 week each at Easter and Christmas.

Local authorities publish lists of HAF providers each holiday period. Each local authority has its own arrangements and provider mix. The GOV.UK HAF page links to local authority pages with the local provision.

Eligibility extends beyond children currently on free school meals in some areas; local authorities can include children of low-income families on other criteria. Specific eligibility is set locally; checking with the local authority confirms the available provision.

Other family members and friends can sometimes participate alongside HAF-eligible children (at the provider's discretion and potentially at a charge). This allows children to attend holiday programmes with their friends regardless of free school meal status.

Registered childminders for holiday care

Registered childminders can provide holiday care for individual children or small groups. Costs and availability vary; Tax-Free Childcare can typically be used to pay registered childminders. Childminders are often more flexible than nurseries or holiday clubs for parents with non-standard work patterns.

The childcare.co.uk and similar platforms list registered childminders by area. Each childminder's profile shows their availability, fees, and offer. Many childminders specialise in school-age children's holiday and after-school care.

Childminder fees typically range from GBP 5 to GBP 10 per hour depending on location and the childminder's experience. Daily rates for full-day care during holidays typically range from GBP 40 to GBP 80.

For families with both pre-school and school-age children, a childminder providing care for both can be more practical and economic than separate nursery and holiday club arrangements. Some childminders specifically offer this combined service.

Building relationships with childminders for ongoing term-time care typically secures availability for holiday care. Most childminders prioritise existing customers for holiday booking.

Universal Credit childcare element for holidays

Eligible Universal Credit claimants can reclaim a percentage of childcare costs through the childcare element of Universal Credit. The maximum amounts are set by the DWP and reviewed periodically; from June 2023, the caps rose to GBP 951 per month for one child or GBP 1,630 per month for two or more children.

From April 2024, eligible UC claimants can claim 85% of childcare costs (up from the previous 70% in some cases). The childcare costs are paid by the parent, then reclaimed through the UC monthly award (with the increased award reflecting the costs).

The UC childcare element can be used for any registered childcare provider, including holiday clubs and childminders. The eligibility requires both parents (or sole parent) to be working or in approved activity such as training.

Coordinating the UC childcare claim with the holiday period requires the parent to pay the holiday childcare costs upfront and then claim through the next UC assessment period. Cash flow during this period can be tight; some UC claimants need to use credit or family support to bridge.

The interaction between UC childcare and Tax-Free Childcare or 30 Hours Free Childcare is that the household chooses the most beneficial scheme. UC claimants typically use UC childcare element rather than Tax-Free Childcare because of the higher percentage reclaim.

Pre-school children's holiday care

For pre-school children whose parents have the 30 Hours Free Childcare entitlement, some nurseries spread the funded hours across the full year (typically as 22 hours per week over 51 weeks), providing year-round funded childcare. Other nurseries use term-time-only funding; in this case, holiday childcare is paid separately.

Tax-Free Childcare applies to pre-school holiday care at registered providers. The combination of funded hours (where stretched) plus Tax-Free Childcare top-up can substantially reduce the net cost of year-round childcare.

Some families with pre-school children use grandparents or other informal care during holidays to bridge any gap in funded provision. Informal care is not covered by Tax-Free Childcare but is often the most practical option for occasional holiday care.

Pre-school children's holiday clubs are less common than school-age clubs because most pre-schoolers are already in regular childcare. Where parents need additional care during their own annual leave (such as parents not taking holiday leave at the same time as their nursery's closure), short-term childminder cover is the typical solution.

Holiday Activities and Food programme detail

The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme is funded by the Department for Education and delivered through local authorities. The programme provides funded holiday activities and meals for children eligible for free school meals in England during the Easter, summer, and Christmas school holidays.

The standard offer is 4 hours per day, 4 days per week, for 4 weeks of summer holidays plus 1 week each at Easter and Christmas. Total: 24 days of funded provision per year. Local authorities publish the lists of HAF providers for each holiday on their websites.

HAF activities typically include sports, arts and crafts, outdoor adventures, and learning activities. A healthy meal is provided each day. Some HAF providers specialise in specific activities (such as sports clubs, music programmes, or outdoor adventure).

For working parents whose children are HAF-eligible, the programme provides a significant cost saving compared with paid holiday clubs (which typically charge GBP 20 to GBP 60 per day). Combining HAF with parental annual leave and (where used) grandparent care can substantially address the summer holiday childcare challenge.

Disclaimer

This article provides general information based on rules and figures published by UK government and regulator sources as of May 2026. It is not personal financial, legal, immigration or tax advice. Rules, fees and figures change and individual circumstances vary. Readers should check primary sources or consult a qualified, regulated adviser before acting on any information here.

Frequently asked questions

Does 30 Hours Free Childcare cover holidays?

Some providers stretch the funded hours across the full year (typically as 22 hours per week over 51 weeks), providing year-round funded childcare. Others operate term-time only. Check the provider's policy. For families needing holiday childcare, choosing a stretched-funding provider provides continuity; term-time-only funding means paying for holiday childcare separately.

Are HAF places guaranteed for eligible children?

Eligibility gives priority for funded places, but specific places at specific providers may need to be booked. Local authority pages list availability. HAF capacity has expanded since the programme launched but demand often exceeds supply in some areas. Booking promptly when the booking opens secures the best places.

Can grandparents claim Tax-Free Childcare for informal care?

No. Tax-Free Childcare can only be used for registered providers, not for informal family care. Registered childminders (including grandparents who are registered as childminders) qualify for Tax-Free Childcare; informal grandparent care does not. Some grandparents do register as childminders for this purpose, though the registration process requires DBS checks and training.

Are summer camps eligible?

Registered camps with Ofsted (or devolved equivalent) registration are typically eligible for Tax-Free Childcare. Camps without registration are not. Many residential summer camps are not Ofsted-registered (because they are not regular childcare providers); day camps are more likely to be registered. Confirming the camp's registration status before booking ensures the funding eligibility.

Can secondary school children use HAF?

HAF eligibility extends through secondary school age in many areas (up to age 16). Local authority pages confirm the age range for the local programme. The programme is most established for primary-age children; secondary-age provision varies by area and may focus on different activity types (such as employability skills or sports leadership).

How can working parents handle the long summer holidays?

Common strategies include: using parental annual leave (one parent or both at different times); using grandparent or family support; booking holiday clubs for some weeks; using childminders for ad-hoc days; arranging job-share or compressed hours during summer; working from home with childcare around work; or combining several of these. The 6-week summer holiday is particularly challenging for full-time working parents; planning in advance is essential.

Are pet sitters or au pairs covered by childcare funding?

No. Tax-Free Childcare and other funding schemes are for registered childcare providers only. Au pairs typically are not registered childcare providers and would not be covered. Nannies registered with Ofsted's voluntary register can be covered; nannies not registered cannot. The registration status of the specific carer determines eligibility.

Frequently asked questions

Does 30 Hours Free Childcare cover holidays?

Some providers stretch the funded hours across the full year (typically as 22 hours per week over 51 weeks), providing year-round funded childcare. Others operate term-time only. Check the provider's policy. For families needing holiday childcare, choosing a stretched-funding provider provides continuity; term-time-only funding means paying for holiday childcare separately.

Are HAF places guaranteed for eligible children?

Eligibility gives priority for funded places, but specific places at specific providers may need to be booked. Local authority pages list availability. HAF capacity has expanded since the programme launched but demand often exceeds supply in some areas. Booking promptly when the booking opens secures the best places.

Can grandparents claim Tax-Free Childcare for informal care?

No. Tax-Free Childcare can only be used for registered providers, not for informal family care. Registered childminders (including grandparents who are registered as childminders) qualify for Tax-Free Childcare; informal grandparent care does not. Some grandparents do register as childminders for this purpose, though the registration process requires DBS checks and training.

Are summer camps eligible?

Registered camps with Ofsted (or devolved equivalent) registration are typically eligible for Tax-Free Childcare. Camps without registration are not. Many residential summer camps are not Ofsted-registered (because they are not regular childcare providers); day camps are more likely to be registered. Confirming the camp's registration status before booking ensures the funding eligibility.

Can secondary school children use HAF?

HAF eligibility extends through secondary school age in many areas (up to age 16). Local authority pages confirm the age range for the local programme. The programme is most established for primary-age children; secondary-age provision varies by area and may focus on different activity types (such as employability skills or sports leadership).

How can working parents handle the long summer holidays?

Common strategies include: using parental annual leave (one parent or both at different times); using grandparent or family support; booking holiday clubs for some weeks; using childminders for ad-hoc days; arranging job-share or compressed hours during summer; working from home with childcare around work; or combining several of these. The 6-week summer holiday is particularly challenging for full-time working parents; planning in advance is essential.

Are pet sitters or au pairs covered by childcare funding?

No. Tax-Free Childcare and other funding schemes are for registered childcare providers only. Au pairs typically are not registered childcare providers and would not be covered. Nannies registered with Ofsted's voluntary register can be covered; nannies not registered cannot. The registration status of the specific carer determines eligibility.