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Paying for Child Care

Need help with childcare costs or employing a nanny?

Need help with childcare costs or employing a nanny? Call 03700 100 444 from 1pm and 3pm on Wednesday or e-mail moneybox@bbc.co.uk.

It costs around Β£6,000 per year to pay for a part-time nursery place for a child under 2, according to the latest survey by the Family and Childcare Trust. Single parent charity Gingerbread say that the high cost of childcare is one of the biggest barriers faced by single parents looking for work, so it's worth finding out about any help that's available.

All 3 and 4 year olds and some 2 year olds can apply for free early years childcare places.

You may also be entitled to financial support through Working Tax Credits or Universal Credit and a new Tax Free childcare Scheme begins later this year.

You can reduce your tax and national insurance bill by using employer childcare vouchers and direct payments.

If you are thinking of employing a nanny to look after your children you'll have to think carefully about employment rights, contracts, tax, national insurance and pensions.

Whether you want to employ your own nanny or pay for childcare with vouchers, tax credits or cash, presenter Lesley Curwen and guests will be ready to explain how it all works. Joining Lesley will be:

Julie Mitchell, Gingerbread.

Jill Rutter, Family and Childcare Trust.

Helen Harvey, Nannytax.

Call 03700 100 444 from 1pm to 3.30pm on Wednesday or e-mail your question to moneybox@bbc.co.uk now. Standard geographic call charges apply.

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Wed 11 Mar 2015 15:00

Broadcast

  • Wed 11 Mar 2015 15:00