- Working parents set to save £7,500 a year as government will
cover 30 hours of childcare next month, setting kids up to
achieve more in school
- Working families on free school meals could save over £800 a
year as government invests £600 million into clubs through the
holidays
- Latest step in efforts to put more money in working people's
pockets while making sure every child is ready to learn when they
start school – giving them the best start in life
A week out from the start of the new school term, the government
has delivered a boost for families by investing more to cover the
cost of childcare fees in term time and school
holidays.
Parents using the 30 hours can save up to £7,500 a year, which
can be better spent on quality family time and comes as a massive
salve for parents who have been struggling with the
cost-of-living pressure that we inherited.
But ministers are urging families to apply within the next three
days, or risk losing out on this generational offer from this
September.
The scheme – which covers children from 9 months until reception
– will support more children to be ‘school-ready' and set them up
to achieve better results in school. That delivers a key priority
in the Plan for Change – to give children the best start in
life.
This comes as £600 million is also being invested to extend the
Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme for another three
years. This supports children from lower-income families by
providing free meals and enriching activities during school
holidays. It helps close the development gap, boosts confidence
and social skills, and has already reached over half a million
children in the past year.
The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme helps parents to
make savings of over £300 a year.
Education Secretary, , said:
“Giving every child the Best Start in Life is my number one
priority, which is why we are delivering on our commitment to
provide hundreds of thousands of children with 30 hours
government-funded early education.
“Whether it's to save up to £7,500 a year, support parents to get
back to work or reduce the pressure on grandparents who so often
have to step in, the benefits are widespread.
“The offer is just around the corner, and so I'm urging every
eligible parent who wants it, to take it take up.”
Andrew Forsey OBE, National Director of Feeding Britain
said:
“Today's news will be welcomed by hundreds of thousands of
parents across England.
“The support provided to children from lower incomes through the
Holiday Activities Fund HAF eases the pressure on family budgets
during the school holidays, enhances their access to enriching
and physical activities, and gives them a healthy meal each day
during the school holidays.
“This delivers a raft of benefits for children and their
families, so it is excellent news that the government is
extending this provision for a further three years.”
Bly Twomey, 15 year old who attends Brighton's Table
Tennis Club, talks about her journey to the
Paralympics:
“The first time I went to Holiday Activities and Food Club, I
didn't really want to participate but everyone was so nice and
involved me from the start. I then started going to the club
regularly and it wasn't long before I got invited to join the
British Para Table Tennis squad, which led me to the Paralympics
last year!
“I had only been playing three years so it felt like a dream come
true. I wouldn't have found the sport or the club without HAF. I
love that children with disadvantages can have the opportunities
like I have through this initiative. Brighton Table Tennis Club
isn't just a club, it's a family and I am so pleased they found
me and I found them.”
Work and Pensions Secretary, , said:
“Making sure that children have hungry minds, not hungry bellies,
will help them to fulfil their potential in life, and that is
what this Government is all about.
“Our historic expansion of free school meals to families on
universal credit will lift 100,000 children out of poverty and
tackle term-time hunger.
“That is alongside the £2.5 billion we are investing in the
household support fund, and our commitment to funding the holiday
activities and food programme, which will tackle holiday hunger
too.”
The Best Start Holiday Activities and Food programme provides
free places for school-aged children from reception to year 11
who receive benefits related free school meals.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
HAF evaluation of impact: 2021 gov.uk
HAF figures noted on attendance: Childcare Works HAF |
Hempsalls
Childcare Experiences survey: Expansion to early
childcare entitlements: Childcare Experiences Survey, Autumn term
2024/25 - Explore education statistics - GOV.UK
Delta poll, August 2025
Grandparent childcare data: Grandparents Save UK £96bn
in Childcare | News | SunLife
Cost comparisons:
Average yearly spend on groceries: £3,745 - Average UK Household Cost
of Food 2025 | NimbleFins
Average holiday cost for a family of four:£3,628 - Average Cost of a Holiday Abroad
2025 | NimbleFins
Average yearly spend on groceries: £3,745 - Average UK Household Cost
of Food 2025 | NimbleFins
