Nursery World - Thousands sign up to campaign to raise childcare voucher limit

An e-petition set up to urge the Government to raise the weekly allowance for childcare vouchers for working parents has attracted more than 17,500 signatures since March 2012.

It was set up by John Woodward, the managing director of Busy Bees Benefits, as part of the 'Mind the Gap – Raise the Cap' campaign, which aims to raise the weekly allowance for working parents of childcare vouchers from £55 to £75.

Parents exchange part of their salary - currently up to £55 a week - for childcare vouchers, which are not taxed and exempt from National Insurance. The current rate of £55 has not risen since 2006.

Mr Woodward said, ‘It is important that childcare providers play their part in helping parents to save money by supporting the "Mind the Gap – Raise the Cap" campaign and telling parents that they should ask their employer about the childcare voucher scheme. The scheme provides essential financial support for many working parents who want to access quality care for their children. Our recent survey showed that one in three parents who responded were influenced in their decision to return to work by the provision of childcare vouchers.

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