The system of Childcare Vouchers was introduced so that there was a mechanism in place to ensure that the money generated through the scheme, was being directed correctly to the childcarers.
The scheme stipulates that only registered child care providers can accept payment in vouchers, and the partner companies that administrate the schemes will not be able to process payment without proof of registration.
If you are offering child care services, or you are thinking of setting up a nursery or becoming a child minder, you need to ensure that you are aware of the registration requirements. It is important that you are registered, because you are more likely to attract clients when you have your registration, and you will be unable to accept child care vouchers unless you can prove you are registered.
In England, you will need to register with Ofsted, the government body that regulates education and child care. All child care providers who look after children under 8 need to register; the Ofsted guidelines state that registration covers:
“. . . care provided at any time of day or night for children under the age of 8 on premises other than domestic premises where the period (or total of periods) in any day during which the children are looked after on the premises exceeds two hours.”
Registration is required in order to provide a standard that parents can look for; to protect the children, to promote good quality learning and to ensure that all health, safety and education standards are met. Only children's homes, care homes, hospitals and residential family centres are excluded from this registration.
Once you have completed the registration process, which will include a site inspection to ensure your facilities meet standards, and an interview and criminal check to make sure that you and your staff are all suitable for child care responsibilities, you will receive a registration certificate, which should be displayed at your premises, or easily available for parents to view. If you would like to accept child care vouchers, you will need to forward a copy of this certificate to the company that is administering the voucher scheme. In some cases, you will be accepting vouchers from parents whose companies are using different administration companies, but as long as you register with each company, you should have no difficulty getting paid.
For more information on registering your company so that you can accept child care vouchers,
please call us on 020 8763 8039 or email info@fennies.co.uk
England: Ofsted – 0845 601 4771
Scotland: The Care Commission – 01382 207 100
Wales: The Care Standards Inspectorate – 01443 848 450
Northern Ireland Call your Local Health and Social Services Trust - www.dhsspsni.gov.uk
Date: 08/12/2005
The introduction of childcare vouchers provides a genuine cash saving for working parents, and Fennies Vouchers would like to ensure that the experience of using childcare vouchers is quick and simple, and does not add an unnecessary administrative burden to the already busy lives of the working family.
