Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Nurseries

Find nursery advice from other Mumsnetters on our Nursery forum. For more guidance on early years development, sign up for Mumsnet Ages & Stages emails.

Nursery vouchers??

20 replies

nannyjo · 22/08/2005 19:33

someone told me you can put your child into a state nursery for up to 35 hours a week and it is paid for by the government (subject to joint yearly wage)

i have looked on the ofsted site and can't find what i need.

Does anyone know more about this or where to look or what it this scheme is called?

Also there should be something on this site that lists every state nursery and grades it in a catagory of standards, there are only 8 in the whole of UK that are of top standards, one of which is near to me app but i can't find that either.

Any help much appreciated ta.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
bubble99 · 22/08/2005 20:05

Most state nurseries are part time, 2.5 hours per day. Sure Start nurseries can offer limited fully funded full-time places places but I'm not sure what the criteria are to qualify for a place.

Our nursery accepts childcare vouchers from employers. Busy Bees vouchers are some of the many we accept (there is a website.)

Good luck with your search!

CountessDracula · 22/08/2005 20:06

I thought once they reached 3 the govt funded a few sessions a week is that right?

nannyjo · 22/08/2005 20:39

anyone know what the criteria is? age? wages? or where to look to find the info?? T V much

OP posts:
SaintGeorge · 22/08/2005 20:43

Early years education

nannyjo · 22/08/2005 20:49

bummer so i can't put my 1 yr old in a couple of days a week to bring in a tiny wage. if i have to pay then it's not worth it i'll only bring home about a pound an hour

OP posts:
Hulababy · 22/08/2005 20:53

The vouchers aren't linked to income. They start the term after the child's 3rd birthday.

Dd goes to a private day nursery and she turned 3 in April. We have, early this summer, signed all the paperwork for nursery to claim for the vouchers for her - starting in September. DD goes to nursery 2 full days, 8am to 5pm - we get vouchers to cover 4 x 2.5hr sessions during that time. Stars next month and I am really interested to see how much difference it is going to make to our bill.

spod · 22/08/2005 20:55

Message deleted

Hulababy · 22/08/2005 20:56

spod - our nursery sorts it all out for us. i just had to sign.

nooka · 22/08/2005 21:08

I think it is usually organised by the nursery. You have up to five subsidised sessions, and if there is any more to be paid after that you pay the nursery as usual. Our nursery certainly worked it all out for us, and equalised it through the year (the subsidy is for normal term times only I think).

bonkerz · 22/08/2005 21:13

Nursery vouchers start the term after your child is 3. A child who is 3 in april will recieve 5 x 2.5 hour sessions per week free of chaarge from september of that year. You do not need to do anything to get this money the nursery fill in forms for you and they recieve the money straight from the council. The vouchers are only for 11 weeks per term or 33 weeks per year.

You can claim child tax credit (or working tax credit to help towards childcare costs and this can be upto 70% fo childcare costs. Look at the inland revenue site to see how much you could claim by inputting earnings and childcare costs.

LIZS · 22/08/2005 21:15

Does it last until they turn 5 ? (hoping to get it offset against dd's Reception fees !)

bonkerz · 22/08/2005 21:17

No as soon as your child starts school, full or part time your nursery vouchers stop as school then claim them!!

bonkerz · 22/08/2005 21:19

am currently childminding after being a nursery manager so know alot about nursey vouchers and one of my mindees is due to start nursery for the 5 sessions from sept5th and can only claim till July 2006 as she starts school in sept 2006 so its just for 1 school year! Thats why most schools are starting one intake and all 4 year olds start in september.

LIZS · 22/08/2005 21:30

Not in the private system as I understand it !

bubble99 · 23/08/2005 00:40

Employers can give vouchers for childcare. £50 per week of which is tax-free. An employee can receive nursery vouchers in lieu of salary up to any amount and pay less tax than if they were receiving money, paying income tax on that money and then paying it to the nursery.IYSWIM.

The government funded nursery vouchers for 3 year olds are worth £1200 per year in our area. The money is paid directly to the nursery each term. (I'm not sure if there are regional differences in amounts paid)It works out at £100 per month off of nursery fees.

Hanoge · 26/08/2005 21:10

I dont know if this is any help to anyone with kids under 3 but there is a scheme by which you can buy childcare vouchers from a company "Busy Bees" (www.busybees.com) and the money is taken from your wages before tax and National Insurance. So you dont pay Tax or NI on that amount. Its only a small saving but every little helps. There is a limit to the value of the vouchers and it is £217, I think. But each parent can get vouchers so youd save what you would normally pay to Gordon Brown on £434. You can use these to pay nurseries or childminders.

alibubbles · 27/08/2005 08:20

Message withdrawn

edam · 27/08/2005 09:15

Busy Bees run a chain of nurseries. I guess their scheme is good for parents whose employers don't do childcare vouchers - or do all employers have to do it now?

edam · 27/08/2005 09:16

Nannyjo, if you have a partner, he could get £200 of his wages paid in childcare vouchers free of tax and NI.

gingerbear · 06/09/2005 11:59

Be careful about sacrificing your salary for childcare vouchers if you are pregnant or intend to take maternity leave. Your maternity pay is calculated on the average earnings during the 8 week period, 15 weeks before your expected due date. If you receive a reduced salary in this period because you have taken childcare vouchers from your employer in lieu of cash, your maternity pay may be reduced.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page