Can I use a nanny with tax credits?

[GinIceAndASlice]

I have returned to work this week and have a 3yo dd and 1 yo twins who are all going to a nursery.

I am getting the child care element of tax credits and with my share of 30 percent its £1453 a month for 3 days a week.

A colleague said I'd be better off with a nanny! Its got me thinking... can they be an approved form of child care?

It would be less stressful than wrangling the 3 of them each morning and evening!

I would be slightly better off financially not working, but want the security in case something happens to Dh job, and to keep my foot in the door career wise.

Yes but she has to be ofsted registered.

Oooh getting excited now!

Has anyone done this? Were the tax credits people ok with it? Do you just give the ofsted reg number the way you do with a nursery etc?

Next question. ..how do I find an ofsted registered nanny in Liverpool?

Yes I've done through tax credits it's exactly the same as a childminder.

I advertised through childcare.co.uk and found her that way much cheaper than an agency

Cheers! Really appreciate this! Need to start looking tor a nanny then!

Yes but you will have costs that you don't have with nursery.
I generally say that a nanny is cheaper than nursery with 3 children but you will need to do cost projection.

WTC2 and WTC5 booklets from HMRC deal with how childcare element of tax credits works.
Have you had something from tax credits that says you get 70% and does it give a maximum weekly cost? I think max weekly is 70% of 300 so 210 towards the cost.

Thanks. I think it would still be in the same ball park as what it would cost us now for 3 x times nursery fees even with some support from child care wtc.

We are paying the extra 140 a week ourselves our selves already so the 350 in total should be ok for 3 days of 9 or 10 hours we need including employers NI pay roll company etc.

We are in Liverpool so. £10 an hour looks like a good rate.

Thanks again.