Government announce six-month extension of the Childcare Voucher scheme

Employers For Childcare cautiously welcomes the Government’s announcement of a six-month extension to the Childcare Voucher scheme today, Tuesday 13 March 2018, following a Parliamentary Debate and Vote to keep Childcare Vouchers open to new entrants beyond April 2018.

Aoife Hamilton, Policy and Information Manager for Employers For Childcare said: “While the Parliamentary Vote today did not go far enough to keep Childcare Vouchers open, by offering a six-month extension to the Childcare Voucher scheme, the Government has acknowledged that Tax-Free Childcare is not providing a comprehensive package of support for working parents towards the cost of childcare.”

“The six-month extension of the scheme will allow for a period of further discussion during which we will focus on securing the support that working parents call for. In the meantime, this is a new window of opportunity for parents to get into the Childcare Voucher scheme and for all employers to ensure they are offering it.”

“We would like to thank each of the MPs who supported our lobbying campaign to keep Childcare Vouchers open to support working parents with the cost of childcare. Today’s outcome is a culmination of months and months of lobbying not just by Employers For Childcare, but by parents, employers, charities and others throughout the UK”.

“Our work doesn’t stop here. After today’s Vote, we will continue to work constructively with MPs to secure the long-term provision of Childcare Vouchers as part of a comprehensive package of childcare support for working families.”

If you have any questions about Childcare Vouchers or what your family may be entitled to, you can call our Family Benefits Advice Service on 028 9267 8200 or email hello@employersforchildcare.org  for free, impartial and confidential advice. Working parents who received a personal benefits check from us last year gained an average of £4,130.