Childcare Voucher Scheme

20th October 2017

From April 2018, the current childcare voucher schemes will be closing to new applicants. Employees who have already signed up to a company’s scheme will be eligible to continue to receive vouchers after this time, however they will not be able to rejoin the scheme if they leave it and will not be able to join the scheme if they change employers.

The vouchers are being replaced by tax-free childcare, however the schemes do not operate in exactly the same way and some parents may be worse off under the new arrangements.

The government’s Childcare Choices website contains details of the new arrangements and includes an on-line calculator so that employees can check how the changes may affect them.

Schools are advised to notify all staff of the changes to assist employees to make an informed decision.