COUNCIL LEADER FROM BRIGG WELCOMES EXTENSION TO CHILDCARE FUNDING

FROM CHRIS O'ROURKE, NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL

Government plans to extend the tax-free childcare scheme to parents with children under nine years old have been welcomed by North Lincolnshire Council Leader, Cllr Rob Waltham (Brigg & Wolds).
The scheme was launched in April 2017 and allowed eligible parents or guardians of children under four to apply for up to £2,000 free per child (or £4,000 for children with a disability) towards childcare costs each year.
Following the Government’s extension to the scheme, parents with children under nine years old can now apply and start saving on their childcare.
In North Lincolnshire, an estimated 10,590 children between five and nine are now eligible, meaning thousands more families can now benefit from Tax-Free Childcare.
Cllr Waltham, pictured above, said: "The extension to the Tax-Free Childcare scheme will provide a welcome boost to North Lincolnshire families with children under nine who can now start to save up to £2,000 a year on childcare costs.
“Tax-Free Childcare is one of a number of government initiatives aimed at helping busy, working families with the costs of childcare. These initiatives gives parents more freedom to go back to work after the birth of a child or work part-time, without worrying about childcare costs.”
The Tax-Free Childcare scheme works as follows: parents and carers open a special account to save for childcare costs. For every 80p they deposit into the account, the government adds 20p, up to a maximum of £2,000 per child per year, or up to £4,000 if their child has a disability.
This means that including what you deposit, parents can use the scheme to pay for up to £10,000 of childcare costs per child, per year.
The Tax-Free Childcare scheme is expected to be extended to parents of children under 12 years old later this year.
You can find out more information about Tax-Free Childcare and the other government schemes available to help you pay for childcare through the Childcare Choices website at www.childcarechoices.gov.uk