Qualifying childcare

Childcare vouchers can only be used to pay for registered or approved childcare, including:

• Registered childminders, nurseries and play schemes
  
  
• Out-of-hours clubs on school premises run by a school or local authority

• Childcare schemes run by school governing bodies under the ‘extended schools’ scheme

• Childcare schemes run by approved providers, for example an out-of-school hours scheme or a provider approved under the Ministry of Defence accreditation scheme

• Childcare given in the child’s own home by a person approved to care for the child or children (England only)

• Childcare given in the child’s own home by a domiciliary worker or nurse from a registered agency who cares for the child or children (England only)

• Childcare given in the child’s own home by, or introduced through, childcare agencies (Scotland only), including registered sitter services and nanny agencies. The child carer may not be a relative of the child.

• Approved foster carers (the care must be for a child who is not the foster carer’s child).

See the HM Revenue & Customs website for further details.
 

Non-approved carers

Individual carers can become approved through the Government’s fast-track approval scheme run by Sure Start. Details can be obtained by calling 0845 767 8111 or by visiting the website www.childcareapprovalscheme.co.uk