Did you know there’s a range of financial support available to help with childcare costs?

Children playing outsideWhether you’re working, studying, or seeking employment, you may be entitled to assistance that can ease the financial strain of childcare.

You can visit the government’s Childcare Choices website to find out more about the schemes available, check your eligibility and apply for support. For further guidance, contact your local children’s centre.

CBC Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme is returning over the Christmas holidays

Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) holiday activities and food (HAF) programme provides fun, free activities for children and young people aged 5 and upwards during the Easter, summer and Christmas school holidays.

The programme is for children eligible for benefit related free school meals, which is a requirement from the Department for Education (DfE) which funds the programme.

Healthy snacks and lunch are also provided to all children and young people attending face-to-face activities. Are your children eligible? Find out more about the HAF programme, or speak to your child’s school.

Free school meals – are your children eligible?

If you’re receiving a qualifying benefit, your child can get a free school meal every day that they are at school, studying in further education, or at a sixth form college.

The qualifying benefits for free school meals are:

  • Universal Credit (if your annual net earned income is no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods)
  • Income Support
  • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Support under Part IV of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • The Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
  • Child Tax Credit (if you are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and your annual gross income is no more than £16,190)
  • Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)

If you’re not getting a qualifying benefit, your child can still get a free school meal whilst they’re in reception, year 1 and year 2. You don’t need to apply for these.

Find out more about free school meals.