Calling any school admin staff re childcare vouchers

[HariboAndWine]

I work in a primary school as a teacher and have enquired about getting childcare vouchers. I have been told that the school doesn't do them as it comes out of our budget. This is apparently written in one of our policies. Is this right? Does it cost the school money to provide them?

Well, one childcare company quotes this
However the big cost, and I suspect in a school environment, where there is a large proportion of women, it is the fact that they have to continue paying through subsequent maternity leaves on top of SMP which is putting off your employer.
Unfortunately it is a benefit, not a right, and its the employers decision to offer them or not.

Thanks nextphase. Shocked to discover that although I am technically a government employee I am unable to access a government scheme!

Have you checked this with the salaries department at your Local Authority? Mine were issued by them, not my school (although this was about 5 years ago).

I'm a TA and mine comes directly from the county council. I would query this, it doesn't sound right.

Please sign if you are a parent or not and pass this on... the petition is at 17,051 but 100,000 signatures is needed to go to the Backbench Business Committee.... The petition is to increase the childcare voucher amount will ill make childcare slightly more affordable... Maybe if they see it as a much needed thing then schools etc maybe required to offer all parents the benefits...
epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/31669

Thanks all. I will query this with LEA. Thanks for petition link too. I really think it should be an entitlement for all

Have a look at the calculator page here and complete it as if your employer does offer the vouchers - in some cases you might get just as much by applying for working tax credit (depends on your income and DPs if you have a DP) and you aren't allowed to have both WTC and CV so if the difference is small it might be easier to just get the money through WTC - it's the same principal in both routes, simply that some of the money you are spending on childcare shouldn't be taxed.

I'm school admin and I and several teachers use the voucher scheme as long as your LEA support the system you should have No problems. Speak to Hr and payroll .