Does anybody know whether the councils offer any schemes for working mothers to put children in nursery?

Question

whether you are entitled to money toward costs?

Answer 1

Pick up the phone and ask your council!

Answer 2

If you want to go to work the best advice is find the number for your local benefits office and ask to make an appointment to speak to someone re: working tax credits and if you are a single parent you can also ask to see a Lone Parent Advisor. When you receive Working Tax Credit (which bumps your income - very useful!!) you are entitled to 70% of your childcare costs paid for you as long as the child is in registered childcare. When your child turns 3 years of age you are also entitled to Child Care vouchers for your chosen nursery which give your child 2 and a half hours a day free nursery placement. These are for all parents regardless of whether they work or not.

Answer 3

Do you work for the council?? My council subsidises nursery costs for it's employees.

You may be entitled to working familes tax credit (UK) dependant upon income. If you are a single mum on low income, the credit will cover up to 70% of your nursery fees, if your household has a joint income the amount will be less, but you are entitled to something if your household income is less than £55k/pa.

When you child reaches 3 you automatically receive "vouchers" from the government, mine reduce my fees per school day by around £6.30 - not a lot but it helps if your child is in full time care.

On top of the above, under the current tax laws, you are entitled to £55/wk of your earnings tax free (over and above your basis tax free allowance), so long as this amount is paid directly to your childcare provider from your employer. This means about £630 that you would have paid in tax, goes to your nursery instead therefore saving you more.

Nurserys take a big chunk of your income but you still work out better off financially by working.

Good luck!

Answer 4

As far as I know yes they do. My sister owns a nursery in Stowmarket (suffolk) she i am sure has parents whom get assistance, as I think the goverment say that children of a certain age have the right to education. Your local council, should help, or maybe try contacting a few nurseries they will be able to tell you. Good luck

Answer 5

Most councils offer this incentive to get single mothers back to work, infact lots of nurseries get help/compensation from the goverment for this service.
You need to contact your local council, or social services, as there are schemes around.

Answer 6

there is a great project called sure start, that offers working parents childcare facilities . contact your local councill to see if there is one in your local area. make sure wherever you go has good reconmendations and enquire about working families tax credit. this can help towards the costs as long as you meet the criteria. but you can claim this from the use of a registerd child minder /nanny or nursery.
good luck.

Answer 7

I'm not sure about the council, but if you contact the Tax Credits Helpline (you should be receiving Tax Credits if you are working) they actually give you extra money with your Tax Credits to pay towards Nursery.

Answer 8

If you're in the UK you can claim help with childcare costs providing that you work over 16hours per week (both parents if in a couple). This is claimed as part of working tax credits. There is lots of government jargon - so my advice is to call on 0845 300 3900 or check out the website

www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits

Answer 9

Most people are eligible for tax credit which will contribute towards your childcare costs. If you earn over a certain amount, this wont be very beneficial for you. There are also Childcare vouchers, which are available through your employer, they purchase them on you behalf and deduct the money from you wages, so that you don't pay income tax on the amount that you purchase. hope this helps..

Answer 10

It varied with different council's, so you shoud really go on the website and scheck that out. You do get money through tax credits though, so get in to them and give them all the information about the nursery and they it add it on to your working tax credits claim.

Answer 11

You can get vouchers for help with the cost of child care, but I believe they don't come into play until your child is 3 - not very helpful for younger children. I suggest you contact your local council or benefits office and ask them.