Making Childcare More Accessible: A Guide to Support our Families

As the cost of living continues to rise, access to affordable, reliable childcare has become one of the most pressing issues for families across the UK. Our recent survey of over 1,500 parents reveals the scale of the challenge: 73% say childcare costs affect their decision to use wraparound care, and 38% have reduced their working hours as a direct result. With 86% of parents saying affordable childcare is important to their family, it’s clear that the current system is not meeting their needs.

At Junior Adventures Group UK, we’re committed to supporting parents in two key ways. First, by providing clear, practical guidance to help families understand and access the support that is available to them today. And second, by actively campaigning for a reformed, nationally consistent childcare system, one that prioritises affordability, accessibility, and quality for every child and family, regardless of income or postcode.

- Craig Jones, Community Partnerships Director, Junior Adventures Group UK

National Schemes Supporting Families

Tax-Free Childcare (TFC)

Available to around 99% of UK families, this scheme provides up to £2,000 per child, per year (£4,000 if your child is disabled) to help with childcare costs. For every £8 you pay into your childcare account, the government adds £2. As of July 2025, families can now link their HRMC account to our booking system and have their payments apply automatically. Find out more about linking your account by clicking the button below.

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Childcare Vouchers

Although closed to new applicants, many parents still use Childcare Vouchers as their most popular payment method. We work with all registered childcare voucher providers, allowing families to book JAG clubs and activities using their voucher of choice for either full or part payments. If you book early and your provider can accommodate it, our flexible payment plans even allow you to pay via monthly childcare voucher instalments, helping you spread the cost. If you're already enrolled, Childcare Vouchers remain a useful way to save on childcare costs. Click the link below to view the full list of providers we work with and the URN to use when booking.

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Student Finance Childcare Grant

Full-time students who are currently pursuing an undergraduate degree, an Initial Teacher Training (ITT) course, or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) may be eligible for a childcare grant for the academic year.

Contact your college/university to explore the possibility of receiving a Student Finance grant. Once your grant is confirmed, let us know by email and we will support you in using your grant to pay for our clubs.

You could be eligible for:

A maximum of £183.75 a week for one child, or up to 85% of their costs (whichever is less)

A maximum of £315.03 a week for two or more children, or up to 85% of their costs (whichever is less)

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Universal Credit

Eligible parents can claim back up to 85% of childcare costs through Universal Credit, offering substantial support for low-income families who are working or looking for work.

If you're looking to claim Universal Credit, we require an upfront booking and payment on your JAG account. You can obtain a 'tax letter' for proof of payment by emailing our Customer Experience Team. Upon receiving the tax letter, upload it to your Universal Credit journal. If eligible for reimbursement, the Universal Credit team will process the claim accordingly.

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Wraparound Childcare (WAC) Scheme for Military Families

Funded by the MOD, the WAC scheme supports service personnel with the cost of wraparound care for children aged 4–11, covering up to 20 hours per week during term time.

The scheme works by reimbursing families for care paid via a Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) account. While the WAC allowance is treated as a taxable benefit by HMRC, the scheme accounts for this by grossing up the payment to cover additional tax and National Insurance costs—meaning families receive the full benefit without financial penalty.

To access the scheme, families need to register each child, set up a TFC account, make childcare payments, and then submit invoices for reimbursement through the MOD's claims system.

You can find full guidance and eligibility details via the Armed Forces Families Federations website here.

Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF)

HAF offers free holiday club places to children eligible for free school meals. We’ve been a proud provider of HAF since the programme first launched in Easter 2021, giving thousands of children across the UK access to enriching holiday experiences they may not otherwise have had. The scheme has been a lifeline for many families, particularly during school breaks when costs and care gaps can be most challenging.

Currently, HAF is funded until the end of 2025, with no confirmed plans for continuation beyond the winter holidays. While we celebrate the difference it has made, we also join others in calling for longer-term investment to ensure no family is left behind once the current funding ends.

Free Breakfast Club Rollout

We are pleased to be the wraparound provider of several schools that were chosen in the first phase of the government’s free breakfast club scheme, which began in April 2025. This scheme offers a free 30-minute session before the school day to help ease morning pressures and set children up for the day, ready to learn.

As part of a planned national expansion, we look forward to supporting more families as the programme grows. We believe this initiative can make a meaningful difference in addressing the need for affordable morning care.

JAG UK Support Options for Families

In addition to national schemes, we offer a range of flexible options to help parents manage the cost of childcare:

• Instalment plans to spread the cost of bookings across manageable payments

• Minimum deposits to secure a space without needing full upfront payment

• Sibling discounts for wraparound care

• Taster days for children starting at a new wraparound club or new families joining JAG

• Early bird and weekly booking discounts for Holiday HQ clubs

These options are designed to reduce upfront barriers and help parents access enriching, reliable care that supports both work and family life.

Looking Ahead

While support does exist, the current childcare system remains fragmented and difficult to navigate. Our recent polling shows that 54% of parents are unaware of the subsidies available to them, and 73% would be more likely to use wraparound care if it were more affordable. Families are facing real and immediate challenges; reduced working hours, rising costs, and the daily stress of juggling care and work schedules.

That’s why clear information, consistent funding, and coordinated reform are more important than ever. At Junior Adventures Group UK, we are committed not only to helping families understand what support is available right now, but also to campaigning for long-term change. We’re calling for a national funding model that puts affordability and access at the heart of childcare policy.

We believe every child should have access to high-quality wraparound care, and every parent should have the freedom to work, train or study, without childcare being a barrier.

To explore all your current childcare payment options, click the button below and access our full support guide.