Teachers not getting childcare vouchers discussion

AlisonChalmers

You can find out about the government consultation as well as information about which teachers can and can't get childcare vouchers, by visiting https://www.kiddivouchers.com/infoteachers.php. (Please note that although I am involved in KiddiVouchers, the information for teachers and the petition for teachers are free services and are not for financial gain.)

nannynick

Last thing I heard was that changes to teachers pay and conditions was in the hands of School Teachers' Review Body (STRB). Once they had confirmed that teachers wanted salary sacrafice for childcare vouchers, then it could be fast tracked. However, I've not heard anything since - anyone have any updates. It's now April, did legislation get changed? Do we now have to wait till April 2007 to get changes made to TPandC Doc?

Rachel130171

The legislation has been finalised and changes to teachers pay and conditions have been made today 1st June 2006. Teachers are now eligible for salary sacrifice schemes and so can claim vouchers towards costs of childcare. Hooray!

Splats_2

Many thanks Rachel for this. Good job at being so quick of the mark here. I have already contacted our voucher provider to arrange these.

MARTIN: I think it would be worth a note in your next money tips to alert everyone to this.

There in only a slight fly in the ointment for us, and this is a point which could be relevent to a lot of people, not just teachers, so again a 'heads up' on this might be worthwhile:

As my wife is pregnant again, I asked our voucher provider what happens when she is off on maternity leave. Essentially, she can still have the voiuchers if she can fund their purchase from her maternity pay. However, they did say that we should not claim the vouchers between weeks 17 and 25 of her pregnancy because their purchase will affect the assement of her maternity pay. Guess what - my wife is now in this zone, so we are holding off getting the vouchers. It might be worth highlighting this fact for others as it was an issue we had not thought of.

At least teachers are eligible now - only took them a year to sort out........

lisahobden

As a teacher, I just found out from my employer that teachers are now entitled to take advantage of the Childcare voucher scheme, whereby you can get vouchers to pay for your childcare, tax free, as a salary sacrifice scheme.
Previously teachers were not allowed to take part in this as salary sacrifice took the salary below that which is agreed by the Teachers Pay act.

Good news for teachers everywhere! Go to https://www.busybees.com for more information!

hth someone

Lisa

SE9Gull

Apologies for awakening this thread from its summer slumber, but I was wondering if any teachers out there have had any success in getting these vouchers now that we are entitled to them?

adr0ck

my misses can get them (primary school teacher in wales) however she is goverened by quite strict rules on them.....has to sign a contract for 12 months etc.....i'm not sure what other employers do

this obviously can make them a bit inflexable

its so annoying all the government forms etc why cant they just increase child benefit for under 5's?...it would make everyones life much easier

slamber

I work for the MOD and cannot partake in the voucher scheme as the pay system cannot handle the scheme. I am told that a new system is coming in sometime in 2007 and will work with the voucher scheme. Too late for me!

Kind of sums it all up really, the vouchers being a government initative and one of the Governments largest departments can't even take part! There's equality for you! :mad:

MMCG_2

Looks like progress in DENI here in NIreland. We have been advised by the unions that childcare vouchers are to be introduced. However when I queried when I could avail of these in November I was told that it could be April , which means next year if they follow the usual pattern. My children will probably have left childcare at that stage..... I wait with baited breath.

MMCG_2

Hurray, success at last. All the required employing authorities here in NI have eventually signed up to a childcare scheme - employers for childcare. The website is

https://www.childcareni.com

and the telephone number is 08000283008. I found it difficult to get through but managed to get an alternative number 02892610661. Patricia is dealing with new requests and enquiries. It seems that DENI has the necessary software in place now and that all teachers in NI should be able to get these vouchers from the 1st of June 2007. It also seems that you just opt out when you no longer need them and that there is no minimum stay required.

It also looks like anyone in the civil service here can also receive them from November this year, but my advice is to keep hounding your human resource/personnel dept of your employers like I have been for over 2 years now!
If this helps anyone please let me know.