GOV.UK Tax-Free Childcare
The most popular way our parents pay for holiday camps. Save up to 20% on childcare costs with the government's Tax-Free Childcare scheme.
How It Works
Tax-Free Childcare is a government scheme that helps working parents with childcare costs through a simple online account.
Set Up Your Account
Apply online at GOV.UK. It takes around 20 minutes and you'll know if you're eligible straight away.
Pay Into Your Account
For every £8 you deposit, the government adds £2 automatically. Pay by Direct Debit, standing order, or bank transfer.
Pay for Camp
Use your Tax-Free Childcare funds to pay for School's Out Activities camps via Poncho Pay at checkout.
Example Saving
Your Camp Bill
£250
You Pay
£200
(80% of bill)
Government Adds
£50
(20% free top-up)
Why Parents Love Tax-Free Childcare
Save Up to £2,000 Per Year
For every £8 you pay into your childcare account, the government tops it up with £2. That's up to £500 every 3 months — or £2,000 per year per child.
Up to £4,000 for Disabled Children
If your child is disabled, the government top-up increases to £1,000 every 3 months — up to £4,000 per year.
Covers Holiday Camps
Tax-Free Childcare can be used to pay for holiday clubs, play schemes, and after school clubs — including School's Out Activities camps.
Quick & Easy to Set Up
Apply online through GOV.UK in around 20 minutes. Once approved, you can start paying into your account straight away.
Am I Eligible?
Most working parents qualify. Here's a quick summary of the key requirements:
- You (and your partner, if applicable) must each be working or returning to work
- Each parent must earn at least the National Minimum Wage for 16 hours a week
- Neither parent can earn more than £100,000 per year
- Your child must be 11 or under (16 or under if disabled)
- Your childcare provider must be registered and signed up to the scheme
- You cannot claim Tax-Free Childcare if you're already receiving childcare vouchers or Universal Credit
TFC Express Checkout with Poncho Pay
With TFC Express Checkout, you can make a Tax-Free Childcare payment instantly at our checkout — no jumping between web pages and no need to enter your card details.
Watch How It Works
Step-by-Step Guide
💡 Before you start, please ensure:
- You have added School's Out Activities as a provider in your GOV.UK Tax-Free Childcare account (this is a HMRC requirement — you only need to do this once).
- You have sufficient funds in your Tax-Free Childcare account.
Add Us as a Provider (One-Time Only)
Log in to your GOV.UK childcare account and add School's Out Activities as a childcare provider. A provider with multiple locations often processes TFC payments through one location — please add the one shown on screen at checkout, or check with us first. You only need to do this once.
Book Your Camp
Browse our timetables and add sessions to your basket as normal. Your booking confirmation will always show the location you've booked, regardless of which provider location processes the payment.
Select TFC Express Checkout
At checkout, choose Tax-Free Childcare as your payment method and click the TFC Express Checkout button. This connects directly to your GOV.UK account — no need to jump between websites or enter card details.
Follow the On-Screen Instructions
Complete the quick verification steps shown on screen. Your payment is processed instantly and your booking is confirmed — no chasing, no delays.
💡 If you have insufficient funds in your TFC account, use the Standard Checkout option instead — the button is just below TFC Express Checkout.
⚠️ Important: If you choose to pay us directly via your GOV.UK childcare account instead of using Poncho Pay at checkout, please phone or email us to let us know you've made the payment. We rely on Poncho Pay's automated reconciliation to match payments to bookings — so if you pay outside of this system, we may miss your payment and your booking won't be confirmed until we hear from you.
Remember to Reconfirm Every 3 Months
You must sign in to your GOV.UK childcare account every 3 months to confirm your details are still correct. If you don't, your Tax-Free Childcare will stop.
Sign in to confirm your detailsReady to Book?
Combine Tax-Free Childcare with our Advance Booker discount and save over 30% on holiday camps.