Childcare voucher schemes – what you can save
Childcare Vouchers: Types of Childcare Available
Many parents ask us if vouchers obtained under the UK Childcare Voucher Schemes may be used to purchase any type of childcare or if limitations are imposed under the UK scheme.
If your work for a company that operate a company childcare vouchers scheme, then as a parent you can claim up to £55 per week, net of tax and insurance, if you have a child that qualifies under the UK childcare voucher schemes rules. However, the truth is that not all forms of childcare qualify for the tax break. It's extremely important to understand which types of childcare are approved by UK Childcare Voucher schemes and which are not.
What is Classed as Approved Childcare?
The UK Childcare Voucher Scheme covers children from birth up to 15 years, or 16 years for disabled children. As a parent your child will continue to be eligible until the 1 September immediately following their 15th birthday.
The assumes that the childcare provider is approved and registered with the authorities. This rule applies whether a child receives care through a childminder, playgroup, nursery, rmployers nursery/creche or using the services of an au pair or personally employed childminder.
The definition of approved childcare for the benefit of the British childcare vouchers scheme varies within the United Kingdom.
- In England a qualifying child-carer must be registered under part 3 of the 2006 Childcare Act. They will also be registered on the Early Years Register and the General Childcare Register.
- In Wales a childcare provider must be registered by the National Assembly for Wales, through the Care Standards Inspectorate.
- In Scotland a childcare provider has to be registered with the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care.
- In Northern Ireland childcare has to registered by a Health Care and Social Services Trust, or approved by the Approved Home Child Carers Scheme (Northern Ireland).
You can find out if a childcare provider is registered by asking your Local Authority Children's Services Department, or via the Nafis website at www.familyinformationservices.org.uk. Or if you would like the help of one of the team at Early Years Vouchers then don’t hesitate to get in touch with us on 0845 0945 804 of via our Contact page.
If you would like to send your employer a guide to the UK scheme, or if your are an employer that would like to know more about UK Childcare Vouchers, downoad our UK Childcare Vouchers Guide for Employers.
What Doesn't Qualify for UK Childcare Vouchers?
A parent can't claim UK childcare vouchers if the childcare is provided by a relative who looks after the child in its own home, regardless of whether that relative is a registered child-carer. A relative is defined under the 2006 Act as a parent, step-parent, foster parent, grand parent, aunt/uncle or brother/sister. This applies whether the relationship is by blood, marriage or civil partnership. However, childcare provided by relatives can be classed as qualifying for the purposes of UK childcare voucher schemes providing that the relative fulfils all of the following criteria: the relative providing the care is a registered child-carer, provides the care away from the child's own home and looks after other non-related children at the same time.
The Early Years UK Childcare Vouchers scheme is one of the leading UK schemes and offers support to many parents and companies.
Why choose the Early Years Childcare Voucher Scheme?
- Our Childcare Vouchers Scheme clients ranges from multi-national companies to sole traders.
- We do not charge setup fee, monthly charges, “minimum number of employees” charge or minimum contract period.
- Our fee is simply a small percentage of the value of any requests made.
- Speak directly to our admin team.
- Benefit from our easy to use web-based service.
Call Early Years Now on 0845 0945 804.