The School Holiday Hub Quiz: Discover your perfect school holiday childcare solution
Choosing safe, flexible, affordable school holiday childcare can be a challenge for parents. Even with a provider you trust, it’s natural to have niggling questions. Will my child feel settled and secure? Are the staff fully trained in safeguarding and first aid? Is best-quality care within my budget?
The School Holiday Hub Quiz helps families find their perfect school holiday childcare solution. Based on responses to 20 key questions, parents receive personalised recommendations and tips on boosting their knowledge across school holiday childcare essentials like activities, availability, and Ofsted registration.
Feedback also includes expert advice on sourcing government financial support, including Childcare Vouchers, Tax-Free Childcare, and Tax Credits.
Why Ofsted registration really matters
The quiz reveals why Ofsted registration should be a deciding factor in your school holiday childcare choices. Because Ofsted-registered providers must meet a range of set requirements, you get extra assurances that they’re committed to quality care and a safe, structured, secure environment.
Your provider will have comprehensive child protection policies, procedures, and insurance in place and will be regularly inspected by Ofsted to ensure standards are met. Additional benefits include:
- DBS-certified staff
- Regular risk assessments on premises and equipment
- At least one team member with a paediatric first aid certificate
- At least one staff member trained in the common core of skills and knowledge for childcare
Ofsted-registered providers also accept Childcare Vouchers and other tax-free childcare schemes, helping to cut the cost of breakfast, after-school, and holiday clubs.
The School Holiday Hub Quiz offers guidance on choosing an Ofsted-registered provider and checking their Ofsted credentials. Take the quiz here.
Making sense of financial support options
In recent years, the government has made changes to how it helps parents cover childcare costs. If you haven’t checked your eligibility for financial benefits recently, it’s worth a second look. Depending on factors like family income and your child’s age, you may be able to access support options. These could include the following:
Childcare Vouchers
Childcare Vouchers are administered by employers, although not all companies offer them and the scheme closed to new applicants in October 2018. Available to parents with children under 16 (or 17 if your child has a disability), the programme allows each parent to forgo a portion of income tax and National Insurance and receive vouchers to cover childcare. The money you save depends on your joining date and tax bracket.
If you currently use Childcare Vouchers, you may benefit from a switch to Tax-Free Childcare.
Tax-Free Childcare
Tax-Free Childcare was introduced in 2017 to replace Childcare Vouchers. The government scheme gives eligible families up to £2,000 per child towards annual childcare costs, including breakfast, after-school, and holiday club expenses.
Tax-Free Childcare is open to all parents of children under 12 (or under 17 if your child has a disability) in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Eligible parents can open a childcare account, which the government tops up to cover 20% of childcare costs.
Tax Credits
Tax Credits closed to most people in February 2019. However, if you already receive them, you can claim up to 70% of your eligible childcare costs for children under 16 (or under 17 if your child has a disability).
The School Holiday Hub Quiz signposts government resources, websites, and calculators to check your eligibility and find the right scheme for your family. To see if you could save, take the quiz now.
Personalised advice, all in one place: take the School Holiday Hub Quiz
Our School Holiday Hub Quiz provides a FREE personalised report outlining your top school holiday childcare priorities – and tips on getting the most from your provider. Just pop in your answers and get instant advice on safety, quality, financial support, and much more.
Take the quiz now!