Rising costs make private tuition feel out of reach for many families. The good news is that long-running UK schemes can take real pressure off your budget.
This guide explains how Universal Credit, childcare vouchers, and Tax-Free Childcare work, who is eligible, and exactly how to use them to pay for tuition at Students Achieve. We are Ofsted-registered and accept these schemes, which means eligible parents can use approved funding to cover sessions.
Can Universal Credit Help with Tuition Costs?
If you’re receiving Universal Credit, you may be eligible for additional support to reduce the cost of your child’s tuition at Students Achieve. The government offers a childcare support programme that can cover up to 85% of your childcare costs, making quality education more affordable for your family.
How much support can you claim?
- One child: Up to £951 per month
- Two or more children: Up to £1,630 per month
This support can be applied to before-school, after-school, and holiday tuition sessions at Students Achieve, ensuring your child has a safe, supportive, and enriching environment to learn while you work or study.
To find out if you’re eligible and how to claim, visit the Universal Credit childcare costs page or get in touch with our team – we’re happy to guide you through the process and help you make the most of the support available.
Also, if you’re a full-time student with dependent children, you may be eligible for Childcare Grants through Student Finance. This grant covers 85% of your childcare costs throughout the year and can be used at Students Achieve. If you are eligible for or receiving the student finance package, you can apply this grant to pay for tuition at Students Achieve.
Please note:
- The grant is only available to full-time students.
- Part-time students and those receiving Working Tax Credits are not eligible.
To learn more about eligibility and how to apply, visit the options available on our Families page.
What are childcare vouchers, and who can still use them?
How the scheme works in brief
Childcare vouchers are an employer salary-sacrifice benefit. Part of your salary is taken as vouchers before tax and National Insurance, which reduces your tax bill. Limits and rules are set by HMRC and depend on your circumstances.
Close to new joiners
The scheme closed to new applicants on 4 October 2018. If you joined on or before that date, you may keep using vouchers as long as you remain eligible and your employer continues to run the scheme.
Where vouchers can be used
Vouchers can only be spent with approved, registered providers. Tuition centres that are on the Ofsted Childcare Register qualify, so parents can use vouchers for eligible wraparound learning delivered by registered centres.
Tax-Free Childcare explained
The 20 percent top-up, at a glance
With a Tax-Free Childcare account, for every £8 you deposit, the government adds £2. The top-up is capped at £500 per child per quarter, up to £2,000 per year, or £4,000 if your child is disabled.
Eligibility checklist
You must meet work and income rules, and your child must be 11 or under. If your child is disabled, support can continue until 1 September after their 16th birthday. You need to reconfirm your details every 3 months to keep using the account.
Quick pointers:
- You cannot claim Tax-Free Childcare at the same time as childcare vouchers or Universal Credit. Use the government calculator to check which option suits you best.
- Your provider must be approved and signed up to receive payments
What you can and cannot pay for
You can use Tax-Free Childcare for approved childcare like registered after-school clubs and wraparound care. You cannot use it for compulsory education or private lessons during school time.
Can you use these schemes for tuition at Students Achieve?
Yes. Students Achieve is Ofsted-registered and accepts Universal Credit, childcare vouchers, and Tax-Free Childcare. Registration matters because these schemes only cover approved childcare with registered providers, such as tuition centres on the Ofsted Childcare Register. This is what allows parents to put scheme funds towards eligible sessions.
If you want a centre that combines qualified tutors, DBS-checked staff and Ofsted standards, explore our affordable tuition in Croydon.
How to Pay Using Universal Credit
If you’re receiving Universal Credit and qualify for the childcare support programme, you can use the funds to pay for eligible tuition at Students Achieve. Here’s how:
- Check your eligibility: Visit the Universal Credit childcare costs page to confirm you’re eligible for childcare support and to see how much you can claim.
- Apply for the support: Once eligible, you can apply through your Universal Credit account to receive the 85% childcare funding.
- Inform Students Achieve: When claiming support through Universal Credit, you may need to inform our team to confirm that we are registered as a childcare provider.
- Make payments: The support will be transferred directly to the childcare provider, so your tuition payments will be covered.
- Reconfirm your details: You must reconfirm your eligibility regularly, as per Universal Credit’s requirements.
If you need help with any part of the process, our team is here to assist you in ensuring the funding is correctly applied to your tuition fees.
How to pay Students Achieve using Tax-Free Childcare
Follow these parent-friendly steps:
- Create or sign in to your Tax-Free Childcare account on GOV.UK.
- Add Students Achieve as your childcare provider. Your account lists approved providers that are signed up to receive payments.
- Deposit funds. For every £8 you pay in, the government adds £2, up to the quarterly and annual caps.
- Make a payment to Students Achieve from your account.
- Reconfirm your details every 3 months to keep the account active.
Tip: If you cannot find us in your provider search, contact our team, and we will help you locate our details.
How to pay using childcare vouchers
If you are already in an employer voucher scheme:
- Log in to your voucher portal and add Students Achieve as the payee.
- Schedule your payment for the agreed tuition fees.
- Keep your eligibility continuous. If you move to Tax-Free Childcare, you must tell your employer within 90 days, and you cannot rejoin the voucher scheme later. You can still spend any vouchers you already hold, including alongside Tax-Free Childcare payments, at the same provider.
What kind of savings are typical?
Universal Credit Savings example
If you’re eligible for Universal Credit, the government will cover up to 85% of your childcare costs. This can help significantly reduce your tuition fees, depending on your family situation.
Tax-Free Childcare examples
- Pay £200, get a £50 top-up.
- Pay £400, get a £100 top-up.
- Across the year, the maximum top-up is £2,000 per child, or £4,000 if your child is disabled.
Childcare vouchers in brief
Voucher savings come from paying with pre-tax salary, which reduces tax and National Insurance. Savings vary by income band and contribution level, so check your own figures on GOV.UK and with your employer.
Eligibility at a glance
You are likely to be able to use one of these routes if:
- Your child’s tuition is delivered by an approved, Ofsted-registered provider.
- You meet the Tax-Free Childcare work and income rules, and you can reconfirm every 3 months.
- You are already in a childcare voucher scheme that your employer still runs, and your eligibility has not lapsed.
Use the official Childcare Calculator to compare options and work out what you could save.
Common pitfalls to avoid
- Trying to claim Tax-Free Childcare while still receiving childcare vouchers. You have to choose, although you can spend any vouchers you already hold.
- Forgetting to reconfirm your Tax-Free Childcare details every 3 months. Payments can stop until you update.
- Paying for ineligible costs, such as school-time lessons or any part of compulsory education.
- Assuming any tutor can accept these schemes. Providers must be registered and signed up to receive payments.
Ready to start?
We are here to help you set up payments quickly and correctly so you can focus on your child’s progress. Contact our team about Universal Credit, Tax-Free Childcare or vouchers, and we will guide you through the steps.
FAQs
Yes, if the tuition is delivered by an approved, registered provider that appears on the Ofsted Childcare Register. Check with your provider before paying.
Yes, it can cover approved wraparound care, such as after-school clubs with registered providers. It cannot pay for compulsory education during school hours.
Tax-Free Childcare usually applies until your child turns 12, with extended support for disabled children, and you must reconfirm details every 3 months.
If you apply for Tax-Free Childcare, you must leave the voucher scheme, and you cannot rejoin later. You can still spend any vouchers you already have.
Because the scheme only covers approved childcare. Compulsory education and private lessons during the school day are excluded.
Yes, if you’re eligible for the childcare support programme under Universal Credit, you can use this funding to cover eligible tuition costs at Students Achieve. This can reduce your overall tuition fees by covering up to 85% of your childcare costs.