Birmingham Tax-Free Childcare Surveys - Have Your Say!
Birmingham City Council (BCC) Early Years and Childcare Service are currently undertaking two surveys on the Tax-Free Childcare scheme, one for childcare providers and one for parents/carers.
The latest data confirms that participation in the scheme is a lot lower than anticipated and that many families are not taking advantage of the scheme to receive a contribution to their childcare costs, which in turn could have financial benefits for childcare providers across the sector.
What is Tax-Free Childcare and who is it for?
Tax-Free Childcare provides thousands of eligible working families with up to £500 every three months (or £1,000 if their child is disabled) towards the cost of holiday clubs, before and after-school clubs, childminders and nurseries, and other approved childcare schemes.
For every £8 deposited into a Tax-Free Childcare online account, families will receive an additional £2 in government top-up, and it is available for children aged up to 11 (or 17 if the child has a disability).
This scheme can help working families, including the self-employed, and is one of many ways the government is supporting households to reduce their costs and keep more of what they earn to help pay for other bills.
If you are a parent and want to find out more about tax-free childcare, go to Tax-Free Childcare for Parents.
If you are a childcare provider and want to find out more about tax-free childcare, go to Sign up to Tax-Free Childcare if you’re a Childcare Provider.
Childcare Provider Survey - Tax-Free Childcare
BCC is undertaking a survey of childcare providers from across the sector regarding their understanding and participation in the Tax-Free Childcare Scheme rolled out by HMRC in 2017.
As a childcare provider, participation in the scheme may help your financial sustainability as eligible parents can take advantage of the contribution from HMRC towards their childcare costs. This may encourage a number of parents to continue accessing childcare rather than reducing it due to changes in their childcare requirements since COVID, and the significant increases in the cost of living which is making childcare less affordable.
The survey will only take 10 minutes of your time and is easy to complete from your phone, tablet or computer.
Please complete the survey if you can, the closing date for childcare provider responses is Friday 24 June 2022.
Parent/Carer Survey - Tax-Free Childcare
BCC also want to hear from parents/carers about their understanding and views regarding the Tax-Free Childcare scheme rolled out by HMRC in 2017. By carrying out this survey, BCC hopes to improve access to childcare and support other families in Birmingham.
The survey should take roughly10-15 minutes to complete and asks about the type of childcare setting parents/carers use, their understanding, opinions and experiences of the Tax-Free Childcare Scheme, and whether or not they have used or heard of the scheme.
The closing date for parent/carer responses is Friday 24 June 2022.
*Childcare in this instance means any form of childcare e.g. nurseries, childminders, before and after school clubs, holiday playschemes as well as informal childcare such as grandparents.
Poster for Providers
BCC has created a poster for providers to share with parents/carers to encourage them to take part. We’ve adapted the poster to include a QR code, so you can download, print and put the poster up in your setting.
The QR code allows parents/carers to scan the code using their phone, which will immediately take them to the online survey.
Download the poster by clicking the image on the left.
These surveys are part of Birmingham Be Heard — the website that helps you participate in consultations about local issues that interest you. Using Be Heard means you can make your views known when decisions are being made about things that affect you and the area you live in.