School accepting childcare vouchers as fees

Xxnnllyye · 2022-10-11T09:26:40+00:00

Is it legal for an independent school to accept childcare vouchers towards payment of fees? I understand they can do so till the child turns 5. But is it legal for them to do so for older children? Where can I read up more on it please? And if it's not legal where can it be reported? Don't have anything against parents. It's the school which has been running on several unethical grounds. And would like to know if this is one as well.

LIZS · 11/10/2022 10:33

Is it for fees or extras like wraparound care?

FlounderingFruitcake · 11/10/2022 10:36

I think it’s ok if it’s for wrap around like breakfast club or after school club, or a holiday club.

Myusername2015 · 11/10/2022 10:46

I pay with vouchers from wraparound care at an independent. As far as I know you can’t use it to pay towards fees once child is of compulsory school age

Original poster

Xxnnllyye · 11/10/2022 11:11

Not only for wrap around care, but also specifically towards fees. Like 500£ towards the school tution fee.

OP posts:

FlounderingFruitcake · 11/10/2022 11:27

I don’t use vouchers but I easily spend £500 on top of the fees on after school and holiday clubs for my DD- how do you know that this isn’t the case? Do you work in accounts for the school or something?

ginandtonicformeplease · 11/10/2022 12:47

It's legal until the term after the child turns five - so it could be the whole reception year. Then as PP said it's fine for wrap around care of after school clubs.

Original poster

Xxnnllyye · 11/10/2022 14:44

I am sure it is for the fees for a child who is older than 6 years old. I have email proof of the same. From, the responses I am guessing it's not legal to do so. Can a complaint be made then and to whom?

OP posts:

PantyMcPantFace · 14/10/2022 21:37

Why would you care enough to complain?

Pythonesque · 15/10/2022 01:05

It can be legal for out-of-school-hours care costs, eg for the boarding component of school fees.

forevercooking · 15/10/2022 01:07

You're a delight aren't you

MintJulia · 15/10/2022 01:23

Depending on how much, you will probably find it is legal.

I had £1800 left in childcare vouchers. I'd budgeted it all out but Covid coincided with the last year of ds needing childcare.

I used the whole lot to pay fees, however the school allocated it over two years worth of prep and summer swimming and drama clubs.

Why does it matter to you anyway? You'll make yourself ill being so bitter

passport123 · 15/10/2022 08:20

I know a school which did that, was a pre-prep so took them up to aged 7. Was very useful but I thought at the time probably dodgy. School closed recently.

Ziegfeld · 15/10/2022 10:28

Yes it is legal to accept ccVs to pay for fees up until the age of 16, if they go towards childcare. This could be wrap around care, after school clubs, holiday clubs at the school, or the boarding element of school fees.

Ziegfeld · 15/10/2022 10:30

Ps have you ever thought of joining the Stasi?

Soontobe60 · 15/10/2022 10:30

Xxnnllyye · 11/10/2022 14:44

I am sure it is for the fees for a child who is older than 6 years old. I have email proof of the same. From, the responses I am guessing it's not legal to do so. Can a complaint be made then and to whom?

My question is - why does it matter to you? It’s not like they’re using the vouchers to buy their weekly dose of heroin!

MissyB1 · 15/10/2022 10:31

Ziegfeld · 15/10/2022 10:28

Yes it is legal to accept ccVs to pay for fees up until the age of 16, if they go towards childcare. This could be wrap around care, after school clubs, holiday clubs at the school, or the boarding element of school fees.

Yes I’m sure this is right 👆

I think you should keep your beak out OP.

elevenplusdilemma · 15/10/2022 16:02

I think some schools get away with it by allocating it as childcare, e.g if the independent school's day is 8:30-4:00 but the local state primary is 9:00-3:00 then they can say 1.5hrs a day is childcare.

purplepencilcase · 15/10/2022 16:05

Oh my goodness- mind your own business!

You'd look a complete tool if you are wrong!!

dirtyasadustpanlid · 15/10/2022 16:05

Xxnnllyye · 11/10/2022 14:44

I am sure it is for the fees for a child who is older than 6 years old. I have email proof of the same. From, the responses I am guessing it's not legal to do so. Can a complaint be made then and to whom?

None of your business. Wind your neck in. How on earth does this affect you?

MintJulia · 16/10/2022 02:36

elevenplusdilemma · 15/10/2022 16:02

I think some schools get away with it by allocating it as childcare, e.g if the independent school's day is 8:30-4:00 but the local state primary is 9:00-3:00 then they can say 1.5hrs a day is childcare.

That's because it is childcare ! 🙄

EmpressoftheMundane · 17/10/2022 23:25

OP you are being spiteful, and are on track to make a fool of yourself.

listsandbudgets · 24/10/2022 17:46

Are you the Head mistress of a competing school OP? it's the only reason I can imagine that you'd actually care

ADifferentUser · 24/10/2022 18:04

As it's tax I believe it's an HMRC issue. Relevant guide says:

"If you pay childcare costs for a child in a private school, you can use
Tax-Free Childcare if the costs:
• relate to a child under compulsory school age
• don’t include any element of compulsory education
• are for care outside of school hours."

So if the school can produce an invoice honestly breaking out things into the second and third buckets then they're good to take tax free childcare through the whole age range for those elements.