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<p>An estimated 1.3 million families are eligible for Tax Free Childcare (TFC). The
TFC Official Statistics show that 384,000 families (30%) used TFC in March 2022. 512,000
families (39%) used TFC at some point in 2021-22. TFC spend for the financial year
2021-22 was £411.3 million.</p><p>In 2022-23, the Department for Education is planning
to spend approximately £2.3 million for the universal entitlement for all three and
four year olds, and approximately £900 million for the extended entitlement for working
parents of three and four year olds (also known as 30 hours free childcare). The Department
for Education is also planning to spend approximately £400 million for the 15 hours
free early education entitlement for disadvantaged two year olds, approximately £52
million on supplementary funding for Maintained Nursery Schools, approximately £39
million for Early Years Pupil Premium, and approximately £18 million for the Disability
Access Fund.</p><p>In January 2022, 92% of all three and four year olds were receiving
some form of funded early education (1.2 million children in total), and 384,100 eligible
three and four year olds were registered for a 30 hours place in January 2022.</p><p>In
the latest month for which data is available (February 2022) 119,900 Universal Credit
(UC) households were paid the UC childcare cost element. Overall, 13% of households
on UC with all parents earning and children aged between 0 to 16 were paid the childcare
element in February 2022. Spending on the Universal Credit childcare element is calculated
as part of the total Universal Credit spend and separate figures are not available.</p><p>There
were an estimated 470,000 recipients of all forms of Employer Supported childcare
in 2021-22. There is no estimate of the eligible population. Spend on all forms of
Employer Supported childcare is estimated to be £460 million in 2020-21 and forecast
to be £340m in 2021-22. Employer Supported Childcare is closed to new entrants.</p>
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