FAQs for parents

What are Childcare Vouchers?

How do I benefit from Avent Childcare Vouchers?

How do I know if my carer / nursery is an approved childcare provider?

How do I pay my nursery / child carer with Childcare Vouchers?

Can I claim more money if I have more than one child?

My employer doesn’t offer Avent Childcare Vouchers at the moment. What can I do to encourage them?

Is my partner able to receive vouchers as well?

Do Childcare Vouchers cover children of any age?

Who can I pay with Avent Childcare Vouchers?

Can I use my vouchers to pay for more than one nursery or child carer?

I currently claim Working Tax Credits or Child Tax Credits; will claiming Avent Childcare Vouchers affect these payments?

Would claiming Avent Childcare Vouchers affect my state pension?

What if my chosen nursery or carers are not familiar with Avent Childcare Vouchers?

What happens if I go on maternity leave?

Can I leave the scheme at any time?


What are Childcare Vouchers?

Childcare Vouchers are an employee benefit available to all eligible working parents. In return for giving up part of their salary to pay directly for childcare arrangements, the parent is exempted from paying tax and National Insurance on an amount up to £243 per month or £55 per week (or a really generous employer may add it on each payday).

How do I benefit from Avent Childcare Vouchers?

You get to save money on registered or approved childcare, as you won’t pay tax or National Insurance contributions on your Childcare Vouchers.

How do I know if my carer / nursery is an approved childcare provider?

Your nursery or childcare provider will be able to provide you with their Ofsted registration number.

How do I pay my nursery / child carer with Childcare Vouchers?

In the majority of cases, you will instruct Avent Childcare Vouchers to pay your nursery or child carer directly each time a payment is made to us and the carer should then deduct this amount from your monthly childcare bill.

Can I claim more money if I have more than one child?

No, the savings you make through Childcare Vouchers are limited to an allowance per parent, not the number of children. However, both parents can claim Childcare Vouchers up to a maximum amount of £243 each month dependant on their salary and tax band.

My employer doesn’t offer Avent Childcare Vouchers at the moment. What can I do to encourage them?

All you need to do is get them to contact us on our mobile phone 07970 102 492 or drop us an e-mail on info@aventvouchers.co.uk. We can then talk them through the process and send them any details they need.

Is my partner able to receive vouchers as well?

Yes, as long as they fulfil the required criteria for claiming Childcare Vouchers, which include the following:

  • they are the parent or legal guardian of the child
  • they are employed but not self-employed
  • their earnings, after Childcare Vouchers are deducted, remain above the national minimum wage
  • the child is under the age of 16
  • their nursery, childminder, playgroup, nanny, before-and-after school club or holiday play scheme is Ofsted registered

Do Childcare Vouchers cover children of any age?

Childcare Vouchers cover children up to the age of 15 (until 1st September following their 15th birthday), or 16 if they are disabled (until 1st September following their 16th birthday).

Who can I pay with Avent Childcare Vouchers?

Avent Childcare Vouchers can be used for all Ofsted registered childcare, including:

  • Day Nursery
  • Nursery School / Pre-School
  • Playgroup / Crèche
  • Childminder/ Qualified nanny / Au pair
  • Out of school clubs
  • Holiday schemes /Holiday Play Schemes

Can I use my vouchers to pay for more than one nursery or child carer?

Yes, give us a call on 07970 102 492 and we will discuss your requirements and set this up for you.

I currently claim Working Tax Credits or Child Tax Credits; will claiming Avent Childcare Vouchers affect these payments?

It might; however, we are not financial advisers so you should review your financial situation to ascertain if there is an impact. You can also contact your local Tax Office or visit www.hmrc.gov.uk to find out further information.

Would claiming Avent Childcare Vouchers affect my state pension?

Claiming Childcare Vouchers cannot take your salary below the National Insurance threshold. Therefore, claiming Avent Childcare Vouchers does not affect your state pension.

What if my chosen nursery or carers are not familiar with Avent Childcare Vouchers?

As part of the registration process we can contact your nursery or childcare provider to set them up with minimal impact.

What happens if I go on maternity leave?

You can decide to stop receiving Avent Childcare Vouchers or change the value of vouchers you receive when you go on maternity leave. However, if you have to continue to pay for childcare you may choose to continue receiving Avent Childcare Vouchers for some months of your maternity leave.

Can I leave the scheme at any time?

You can only leave the scheme at the end of your salary sacrifice agreement with your employer. However, some significant life changes may affect your salary sacrifice agreement, which means that you can change your voucher amount or leave the scheme. These changes include: marriage, divorce, death of a dependent, pregnancy or adoption of a child, prolonged illness of a child, moving house, sabbatical, long-term sick leave or maternity leave, significant change to contractual hours, significant change in partner’s circumstances, child starting school or significant change to childcare arrangements.

back to top