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School holidays

Find half term and school holiday activity ideas.

Tax-free childcare unavailable

7 replies

Anythingyousay · 22/07/2025 17:32

I have recently made a booking for my DS for a club over the summer holidays. When booking, it didn't give an option to pay via my tax-free childcare account so I emailed them to ask how I do so.
Their response was that they don't accept tax-free childcare payments at that location but they do at others. I asked if it was possible to pay the other location and they sort the payment at their end. I've found with other providers that sometimes you pay to one fixed location and they match the booking to the correct site.

I have pasted below the response and just wanted to know if this was correct as I feel like I am being misled!

"I completely understand the confusion—especially as some providers may appear to accept tax-free childcare payments across all their venues. However, under current regulations, childcare vouchers and tax-free childcare payments can only legally be accepted at venues that are individually Ofsted registered.
Each venue must be registered in its own right, as the Ofsted registration is specific to the address and provision offered at that location. It’s not enough for a company to be registered once and apply that registration across multiple sites.
If other providers are accepting childcare vouchers or tax-free childcare at non-registered venues, unfortunately, they are doing so outside of the regulations, and this could result in issues for both the provider and parents should it ever be audited.
At , we are committed to operating transparently and within all regulatory guidelines, which is why ** is currently the only venue where we are able to accept these forms of payment."

OP posts:
TickyandTacky · 22/07/2025 21:38

Yes only registered providers can accept TFC. Not sure why you feel they need to mislead you.

Hodgemollar · 22/07/2025 21:39

Why would you be being misled?

TheCurious0range · 22/07/2025 21:40

Yes this is accurate not all childcare provision can accept TFC if they're not individually Ofsted registered. Otherwise you could have a national network of holiday clubs with only 1 in Bromley registered but another 200 who are still accepting TFC

Twelftytwo · 22/07/2025 21:41

Well I've definitely had it where a holiday club provider comes up on the list of institutions I can pay with a certain location (not the location I'm using) but they've told me to select that one anyway and it's fine: they're definitely both ofsted registered.

Is your club at your location not Ofsted registered, that seems strange?

Anythingyousay · 22/07/2025 22:42

Twelftytwo · 22/07/2025 21:41

Well I've definitely had it where a holiday club provider comes up on the list of institutions I can pay with a certain location (not the location I'm using) but they've told me to select that one anyway and it's fine: they're definitely both ofsted registered.

Is your club at your location not Ofsted registered, that seems strange?

Yes, that’s what I mean. The club may be held at “little primary school” but you can pay via their main provider at “other primary school”. I just thought it odd that this isn’t possible. Seems unfair that I could save 25% if I sent him to the exact same club at one school but not if he goes to the one I’ve chosen.
Misled was the wrong use of the word but, like I said, I’ve been using various different providers over the years and this is the first time I’ve been faced with this.

OP posts:
ShesTheAlbatross · 22/07/2025 22:44

Not accepting TFC will put some parents off, so I doubt they just make up that they can’t accept it.

Anythingyousay · 23/07/2025 08:07

Yes, you’re right. I just don’t understand how one branch of a club can allow it and one doesn’t. Especially when they are all being held at schools premises.
I’m not going to cancel because my son is going with his best friend and is really excited about it but it does put me off from using them again.

OP posts:
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