Reduce costs of hiring childcare:
The Government has introduced an Ofsted register, which enables parents to receive some financial support towards the cost of employing a nanny. The scheme is entirely voluntary but only parents who use a registered nanny will be eligible. The Ofsted register will replace the "light-touch" approval scheme that was previously available. Nannies who have recently been approved under the old scheme will still be approved for the full 12 months, but at the end of those 12 months they will need to register with Ofsted in order for their employers to continue receiving financial support. There are two types of financial support available:
- Employer-supported childcare vouchers will make each working parent in the family exempt from paying tax and NI on the first £55 per week they spend on childcare. In order to take advantage of childcare vouchers the parents' employers must sign up to a childcare voucher scheme. Childcare vouchers are available to most nanny employers, irrespective of income.
- Working tax credits. Families with a combined family income below £59,000 can also use childcare vouchers but may in addition be eligible for working tax credit support for childcare in their own home.
In order to register, the nanny needs to confirm she/he is suitable to work with children. She/he must have an enhanced CRB disclosure, which will be done through the Post Office Verify System. She/he should also have an appropriate first aid certificate and training in the common core skills. She/he will also be required to have public liability insurance.
The registration is valid for 12 months and costs £100 per year; this does not include the cost of an enhanced CRB disclosure, which must be done even if the nanny has recently had one done. The CRB disclosure will cost £36 plus an additional £8 admin charge for the Verify System. The DfES will subsidise the cost of the CRB in full until April 2008. The costs of a first aid certificate and any core skills training, if she/he doesn't hold any professional qualifications, will be in addition to the £100.
