Cuddles - Childcare Professionals

Tax credits and vouchers

Advice on Working Tax Credits

You may be eligible for working tax credits if your combined income is less than £59,000p/a. Working Tax Credits are means tested. For more information contact the Tax Credit help line on 0845 300 3900 or visit them online at: www.taxcredits.inlandrevenue.gov.uk

Advice on Childcare Vouchers

Parents can receive Childcare Vouchers of up to £55 a week (or £243 a month) from their Employer. Provided their Employer is registered on the scheme. The Childcare Vouchers are received instead of part of your salary (you don't pay any Tax or National Insurance on Childcare Vouchers). The saving in Tax and National Insurance is worth up to £1196 a year for each parent, so families can save up to £2391.
Childcare Vouchers can be used to go towards paying your Nanny, Maternity Nurses, and Au Pairs as long as they are registered under the Childcare Approval Scheme. 
Childcare Vouchers can either be paid by a regular payment to the Childcare professional, a one off payment or by paper vouchers in which the Childcare professional can claim the money back and be paid directly to the their bank account.

Please refer to the links listed below for more information:

Childcare Approval Scheme (CAS)

www.childcareapprovalscheme.co.uk

The Childcare Approval Scheme (CAS) is becoming increasingly popular with families and Childcare professionals.  Families who are benefiting from the Childcare Voucher scheme can only use the vouchers on registered CAS Childcare professionals
The scheme is voluntary and applies only to childcare provided in England.
The Childcare professional must meet the following criteria at point of application or renewal to qualify:

  • Must be aged 18 years or over.
  • Have either a recognised childcare qualification or have attended a valid induction course.
  • Hold a First Aid Certificate which is less than three years old, suitable for the care of babies and young children. It must also include; dealing with emergencies, resuscitation, shock, choking and anaphylactic shock.
  • It carries out an Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure (CRB check) including a POCA (Protection of Children Act) list check. The Childcare Approval Body will then assess whether the CRB check or entries on the POCA list contain information, which would make the applicant unsuitable to work with children.


Approval is valid for twelve months.
Cost: £99.00