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Original poster

Childcare Vouchers-how does nanny get qualification needed?

31 replies

majorstress · 21/03/2005 15:46

My workplace has a scheme starting in April 2005 (new government rules) whereby I can get £50 a month towards childcare free of tax and PAYE-it says that a nanny would need a CRB check and a paediatric first aid cert-which I would like anyway myself. But where does she go to get this: "They will also have to show an understanding of working with children ? at the very least this would mean attending an induction course on caring for children in a home environment. " Has anyone gone down this road already?

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CountessDracula · 21/03/2005 17:14

I think it's probably worth it if you are both higher rate tax payers.

So you would lose £2600 a year each from your salary, but gain the 40% tax on it ie £1040 per annum. Plus your outlay on childcare would be reduced by £2600 a year netting off the reduction.

If your employer's pension contribution is say 10%, you are only losing £260 of pension (plus the compound interest of course) per annum. I would be inclined to take the vouchers and then put the additional £260 into the pension as AVCs, then you are still £780 each a year better off with no change to your pension.

Presumably other benefits would not be reduced in line eg healthcare as they are the same regardless of your salary.

uwila · 21/03/2005 17:06

Azure, have you taken into account not only the amount that you won't be putiing into pensions but also what the company won't be contributing. Also, if you get say a 7% raise each year, that's 7% on your new reduced salaries.

Also, "qualified" nannies cost more to hire, not to mention the extra tax you have topay (which is not insignificant).

Anyway, if I take al of this into account, it's not worth the paper it's written on. (might be for you though)

Azure · 21/03/2005 16:38

DH and I together could save a couple of thousand pounds a year under the new scheme - sounds good to me.

uwila · 21/03/2005 16:20

Majorstress, do you realise that with this scheme your salary is reduced by £50 (hence benefits such as pension contributions are also reduce).

Personally, I think this offering is a scam that does more to generate business for the ONLY agency qualified to grant accredidation (who also "coincidentally" run the classes your nanny needs to take to qualify for the tax break. Seems to be a bit of a back door approach to fircing nannies to be accredited... SCAM SCAM SCAM.

Okay, I'l shut up now. I never trust anything that is run by the goverment.

Azure · 21/03/2005 16:00

Hi Majorstress, there is some information on this government site (see the Info for Child Carers, then bottom of the Qualifications section) Sure Start

soapbox · 21/03/2005 15:52

Majorstress - most qualified nannies would meet this requriement. Mine have all had their police checks and keep their first aid certificates up to date and of course their course covers caring for children in the home. I always pay for my nannies to do the first aid certificate and give them the time off to attend the course (usually every 2 years or so).

IIRC I think mine went on the St John's ambulance first aid courses for child carers.