Childcare vouchers and paying shortfall

[radioactiveimagination]

I get 'virtual' childcare vouchers which I use to pay nursery via an online system. I've recently increased DCs hours so the monthly fees now exceed the voucher limit of £243. I just wondered what other people do about paying the difference? Do nurseries mind if you pay some of the fees via vouchers and some via bank transfer etc?

My voucher provider allows you to top-up with your card online. Eg my £243 goes in on the 15th. I need to pay the childminder £300, which is paid to her by the voucher provider on the 19th. So I pay the extra on the vouchers website before the 19th.

I just do a standing order for the difference. Did that for Nursery and still do for breakfast/after school clubs.

I've used two childminders and one nursery, all of whom have accepted vouchers plus an additional payment. I suspect it's fairly common.

I just do a bank transfer with the invoice number as a reference.

It's quite normal to pay by a mix of vouchers and money.

It's fine, just agree a reference with the nursery and pay the shortfall via direct debit.

I pay the additional fees by bank transfer. The total amount is often slightly different each month due to holidays or other variations. Our nursery sends an initial invoice, then a day or two later, an updated invoice to confirm receipt of the childcare vouchers with an updated total. I then transfer that amount.

Thanks for the replies. Sounds like a common scenario then. I'll check with the nursery what the usual procedures.

*procedure is

Can someone please explain how these vouchers work and where you get them? What criteria do you need to meet to qualify? Can they be used to help pay for an au pair?
Thank you in advance.

No they can’t be used to pay an au pair only ofsted registered providers. Vouchers are actually closed to new applicants anyway, tax free childcare system took over from it last year.

*stapelberg you cannot enter a voucher scheme now unfortunately, the government have brought out tax free childcare though... not sure if you can use it for an au pair

Oops sorry x post

Op, if you haven't already done it worth checking whether you'd be better off with the tax free childcare instead of vouchers as it's a higher limit or whether you are better staying in voucher scheme.

Information about tax free childcare can be found at childcarechoices.gov.uk

Direct debit for the difference.