Talking point of the day seems to be tonights panorama investigation into the rising costs of childcare.

While the current economic climate is not great and naturally everyone is looking to make cut backs, there is still a lot of help towards childcare out there and this should be taken into consideration when looking for childcare.

Childcare vouchers could entitle working parent(s) upto £1000+ off their childcare costs

Child tax credits could entitle single child families of upto £175 saving per week in childcare costs and upto £300 savings for families with 2 or more children http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/start/who-qualifies/children/childcare-costs.htm

 

Also points of interest are that while nurseries charge a rate per child (average around £50 per day) this could increase significantly for families with say 3 or 4 children. Whereas a nanny would be on a set wage regardless of the size of the family she/he is caring for.

 

A nanny would also be able to take the child/children to a play group/toddler group/etc and interact with other children and adults. A nanny would also have other benefits as in many examples the nanny can carry out domestic duties such as tidying/childrens laundry/ironing.

 

Are childcare costs squeezing you out of the workplace?

Should childcare be simpley chosen on price?

Are you a nanny struggling to find employment due to childcare costs rising?

Childcarers....which is more rewarding/satisfying....working at a nursery or nannying for a family?

With the 2011 budget taking effect, everyone is thinking about how they will be affected. The good news for working parents is that you are able to claim up to 70% of childcare costs (up to a maximum of £175 a week). However, what most people don’t know is that this only applies to Ofsted registered child-carers.   

Ofsted registered child-carers are few and far between; demand is high and supply is very low.  This is where National Nanniescan help you. As an established nanny agency with national coverage, National Nannies assist nannies to get Ofsted registered and help families find Ofsted registered child-carers. We have an extensive database of nannies and have successfully assisted in Ofsted registrations for families requirements.   

It is also important to consider the need for a CRB check. As a record, these are out of date as soon as they are printed. CRB checks can only be obtained through an agency and are always advised for peace of mind. National Nannies can assist in this process to make sure you get the best nanny for you, with the most peace of mind possible.   

National Nannies comments ‘there has always been a general lack of information and promotion about the ability for working parents to claim back their childcare costs and only if the child carer is Ofsted registered. There is a general fear about going down this route in case of having to pay money back at a later date and the forms are very confusing’. National Nannies promotes this message and takes away a lot of the confusion surrounding claiming for childcare costs. ‘We opened our first office in 2009 and with 7 offices around the country now, this is still a message we are keen to get out there so parents fully understand’.   

Find out more here: http://www.nationalnannies.co.uk/Parents.html and download A Guide to Ofsted Registered Nannies.

How do you feel about children being taught sex education from the age of 5?