Hi there. I wondered if anyone might have any experience with childcare grant funding.
My wife has just started a University course as a mature student, and we've applied for a childcare grant to help with childcare costs for two sons, aged 2 and 5.
After much heartache and deliberation we decided the best option was to go with a nanny, even if we didn't get the cost fully covered by the grant.
We've found a nanny via an agency and our youngest loves her and it's been a real relief.
But now the childcare grant people have rejected our application saying that they don't pay for nannies who are on a payroll with PAYE, but will only pay for childcare that comes via invoice from self employed carers. They've said that this is currently being challenged up to parliamentary level and the eventual decision may go in our favour but may not. Our nanny and her agency are both saying that it's not legal for her to switch to invoicing as this would make her a disguised employee as she cares at our home.
The grant people have referred us to some website where they say this information is, but we've both looked and looked and we can't find this anywhere in the info.
Has anyone else come across this before? The only stipulation for childcare we could find was that the carer had to be Ofsted registered, which she is.
We've already paid thousands towards care costs already, and we'll definitely not be able to continue to afford the nanny ourselves. I think we're going to have to find other care, but I still find it hard to believe this technicality is the case as I can't find the information anywhere.
Many thanks for any insight.