How will the childcare voucher scheme affect you?

-

According to research by the Childcare Vouchers Providers Association (CVPA), less than a third of employers believe the Government’s overhaul of the childcare voucher scheme for working parents is a positive step.

The CVPA questioned 1,600 companies and found that a quarter of those believed it was a bad idea, with 44% saying they were currently undecided.

The Government will outline plans revealing that families with two working parents on less than £150,000 will receive childcare vouchers worth up to £1,200 a year for each child.

Currently, parents can only claim the vouchers if their employer has signed up to the scheme.

Get our essential weekday HR news and updates.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Keep up with the latest in HR...
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Optin_date
This field is hidden when viewing the form

 

Highlighting other findings from its research, the CVPA said that 65% of employers that offer childcare vouchers said they were important for their retention strategies, while 94% of employers said that offering childcare vouchers was important in improving the family friendly work environment.

Commenting on its worries of the new scheme, Paul Bartlett, Director at the CVPA, said:

“The role of the employer in the current childcare voucher scheme has been a fundamental reason for its success.”

“Ensuring there is a link between the new scheme and employers will help build on this success, and guarantee employers can still play an important role in helping their staff with their childcare costs.”

It is also expected that the Government will expand the scheme to include parents who stay at home because they are carers, and to parents on maternity or paternity leave, although households with a stay-at-home parent will be excluded from the scheme.

Chancellor, George Osborne, said:

“We want to make the new scheme work in the way that is best for parents, so we are asking for their views.”

Ministers say they want feedback from parents for their plans and a simple online version of the 12-week consultation has been prepared for parents by the treasury and will be published later today.

Latest news

Transgender staff excluded from single-sex toilets under new equality guidance

Transgender people must be excluded from single-sex toilets and changing rooms that correspond with their lived gender under updated...

Simon Coker: Closing the emotional gap – why AI in the workplace is as much a human challenge as a technological one

AI adoption is transforming how work gets done across every sector. But its deeper impact is less visible: it is reshaping how people feel about their work.

Employment tribunal delays stretch towards 2030 as lawyers warn system is nearing collapse

Employment tribunal hearings are being delayed for years as lawyers warn mounting backlogs are undermining workplace justice.

Keeping culture and purpose at the centre of a growing fintech

A fintech people leader explains how culture, wellbeing and purpose are being protected during rapid business growth.
- Advertisement -

Migrant worker with no right to work in UK wins discrimination case against employer

An employment tribunal has ruled that a migrant worker without the legal right to work in Britain can still pursue successful discrimination claims.

Government to replace some GP sick notes with return-to-work plans

Workers in four English regions will be directed towards personalised health and employment support as ministers test alternatives to GP-issued fit notes.

Must read

Leighanne Levensaler: Three ways to win the war for Talent

We all first heard there was a war for...

Dr. Lynda Shaw: Why gender should not matter

Historically, we have lived in a patriarchal society where men dominated the business world and women fought to be recognised as equals. Some may argue that positive discrimination towards women then came into play, but in this day and age simple focus on talent, experience and personality should trump any gender bias to generate success for businesses.
- Advertisement -

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you