Nanny - Childcare Vouchers & SureStart 

(Childcare Approval Scheme)

The Childcare Voucher Scheme was put in place to assist parents in funding their children's childminder, nursery, qualified nanny or approved after school programmes.  As a parent you are able to register for childcare vouchers through your employers.  Check with your employer as to whether the company is registered with one of the voucher issuing bodies such as Accor Services.

On a weekly basis, parents are able to redeem up to £55 in childcare vouchers.  The cost of the vouchers is taken from your salary prior to any tax and National Insurance deductions being made.  This can save some parents up to £1100 per annum in income that would have been paid towards taxes and National Insurance.

If you are employing a nanny, he/she must become 'approved' by the government organisation, SureStart.  A nanny may schedule an interview (to gain 'approval') with SureStart, if and only if, he/she has both of the following:

- Up-to-date Paediatric First Aid Certificate from an approved UK body (issued within last 3 years)

-  UK Childcare Qualifications

The SureStart interview usually last 30-minutes, covering topics such as the nanny's previous experience, qualifications and his/her countries of previous residence.  SureStart then checks the validity of the nanny's qualification with the issuing body and processes an Enhanced Disclosure with the Criminal Records Bureau to verify the nanny's suitability for working with children.  Should the Disclosure return clear, SureStart will deam the nanny 'approved.'  Parents will need to show their nanny's 'approval letter' from SureStart to the childcare voucher issuing body their employer is affiliated.

The interview and registration process through SureStart must be done once a year for the nanny to maintain his/her 'approved' status in order for parents to continue using their childcare vouchers.  This costs approximately £100 per year, which is generally paid by the nanny's employers should they require it of her for childcare voucher purposes.

As mentioned in our Nanny Training (Short Course) Section, MNT Training offers the CACHE Unit 1 ICP (Introduction to Childcare Practice) Course for Nannies, which spans two days.  Should your nanny already hold or gain a 'letter of completion' from this course, it can count as a valid UK childcare qualification and thus, become SureStart Approved.

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