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Education

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Original poster

Childcare Vouchers and private education

22 replies

woolymindy · 20/10/2010 11:51

I wonder if any of you can help me with this?

Can I use childcare vouchers (which DH can buy at work) to pay for fees or is it just out of hours, nursery and holiday club that they can be used for.

I have the info from the school that we want to send the dd's to it is does mention that childcare vouchers can be used but as they do nursery and out of hours etcetc I am not usre what they mean by this.

I don't want to make an arse of myself calling them and asking as I called the first time and even got the year my oldest dd was in completely wrong, they must think me rather vacant already...

Do any ladies here have any experience of this?

My thanks in advance

OP posts:

Original poster

woolymindy · 20/10/2010 12:01

....

OP posts:

zombishambles · 20/10/2010 12:01

Just out of hours and holiday clubs.

GollyMissMolly · 20/10/2010 12:03

You can use them towards boarding school fees.

poorbuthappy · 20/10/2010 12:03

Emmm I thought as long as the childcare provider accepted them they could be used for any childcare...I assume by fees you meant the cost of the private nursery?

poorbuthappy · 20/10/2010 12:04

Oh I see what you mean...you mean private school fees, rather than private nursery fees!
Can you really use them for that?

Original poster

woolymindy · 20/10/2010 12:09

This is a day school - they have a nursery and a playschool and accept nursery education grant etc. The school literature does say they accept several different kinds of childcare vouchers.

The school takes children from 6 months in nursery to 16 - so is it only boarding fees they can be used for or also for day school fees or just prep sessions after school or breafast club etc.

The ds's will be going there in the longer term so then we can use them for nursery but i wanted to know if they can be used for main school day fees... hopeful i know

OP posts:

zombishambles · 20/10/2010 12:14

Just nursery section, afterschool/breakfast club and holiday camps not normal fees

poorbuthappy · 20/10/2010 12:15

Zombie I can hear you and want to confirm that I understand you!

zombishambles · 20/10/2010 12:17

hooray! Now just need to get the dcs to hear me...

Original poster

woolymindy · 20/10/2010 12:31

I can hear you too but someone said they could be used for boarding school fees so I was wondering....

OP posts:

Lizcat · 20/10/2010 13:06

We can use them for school fees prior to the child being 5 (as you would in a private nursery), the boarding portion of fees, before and after school care.
The school has to break boarding fees in to tuition (can not be used) and board, lodging and out of hours care (can be used).

MollieO · 20/10/2010 14:47

They need to be Ofsted registered. Ours is so I was able to use them for reception fees. Now it is just before/after school, holiday club and extra support lessons.

Original poster

woolymindy · 20/10/2010 17:56

Great, because the dyslexia tutoring is extra so this will be a real help - also when the ds's go we can use them for reception. This is so good to know, thank you all so much.

So If this is ofsted registered then does this apply to those claiming childcare element of WTC?

I am right in assuming that being able to accept childcare vouchers and nursery grant means that a setting would be appropriate for someone to claim the childcare element of wtc?

OP posts:

zombishambles · 20/10/2010 21:11

Yes - it depends when in that term the birthday falls though - if you are a september birthday then it wone go far iyswim.

Childcare vouchers clash with the childcare element of wtc dont they? they did when I was claiming anyway...

ForMashGetSmash · 21/10/2010 00:16

In my experience they can be used right up to the end of reception. DD is at a private prep.

Original poster

woolymindy · 21/10/2010 06:42

So in theory does it follow that someone could claim the childcare element of working tax credit up until the end of reception too? As long as they didn't claim vouchers too?

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oshgosh · 21/10/2010 08:11

Childcare vouchers can be used for ... childcare. D'oh.
So it covers before- & after-school clubs and boarding fees (i.e. care outside normal school hours, so that covers pre-schoolers too) but it does not cover education. So they cannot be used for tuition fees or any extras like dyslexia or music tutoring.

There is a calculator here for working out the effect on tax credits.

Original poster

woolymindy · 21/10/2010 10:14

'They need to be Ofsted registered. Ours is so I was able to use them for reception fees. Now it is just before/after school, holiday club and extra support lessons.'

But... someone said they could be used for extra support lessons as at this school the dyslexia support stuff is extra and billed separately - not being deliberately thick just following up someone elses point.

OP posts:

oshgosh · 21/10/2010 10:34

The scheme is run by HMRC so they call the shots. The vouchers are intended for "care" but I cannot find a definition of "care". You could always try phoning their helpline for guidance.

MollieO · 21/10/2010 11:23

Wooly the same as ours. I pay vouchers to school and bursar bills me termly including sen support.

MollieO · 21/10/2010 11:25

Just seen that your message was in response to osh. At least at our school vouchers are used for sen support, which for Ds is extra lessons.

WillowFae · 23/10/2010 23:32

We can use them at our DC's school but only if you have make use of the after school care or playscheme weeks.

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