Parents to get extra financial support for nannies

Thousands of parents will be able to get financial support to help pay for nannies from April 2005, Children's Minister Margaret Hodge announced today.

Speaking at the annual Sure Start Conference, Ms Hodge said that under the Childcare Approval Scheme, families on incomes of up to £59,000 will be eligible for Working Tax Credit support for childcare in their own home.

The Minister said that parents will also gain the added security of knowing that their nanny has passed a series of key checks before being approved for the Scheme, helping parents in the recruitment process.

"The Government's 10 year childcare strategy is nothing short of a childcare revolution which provides real choice for parents and real life chances for children,” Margaret Hodge said. “Historically parents have struggled to secure high quality, affordable childcare, but our strategy is putting childcare at the heart of the modern welfare state for the 21st century."

"By providing quality, accessible and affordable childcare that is available to parents when and where they need it, we are creating the conditions for children to develop, parents to work, train or access education, and for families and communities to escape poverty.”

The Government's ten year strategy for childcare and early years last week increased the limits of the childcare element of the Working Tax Credit to £300 a week (£175 for one child) from April 2005, an increase in the maximum proportion of costs that can be claimed from 70% to 80% from April 2006.

(MB/SP)