Free childcare scheme and including nannies
The government’s 15/30 free childcare scheme currently excludes nannies, limiting the funded childcare options available to families who depend on the flexibility and unique support nannies provide.
Please sign and share this petition to encourage the government to include nannies in the 15/30 hours free childcare scheme.
What we’re aiming for
We’re petitioning the government to include Ofsted nannies as a starting point (but under terms that work for nannies – please keep reading to find out more about that).
- If we reach 10,000 signatories, we will get a government response.
- If we reach 100,000 signatories, the petition will be considered for debate in Parliament.
Please show your support and share the petition with your networks of families and childcarers.
If we show enthusiasm for including nannies in the scheme, we will be better placed to create a positive dialogue with the government.
Why only focus on Ofsted Nannies?
Ofsted nannies are registered and have childcare qualifications, assuring the government that the funding is aligned with childcarers who can demonstrate professional training and expertise.
Another upside to this proposal is that we will encourage more nannies to become Ofsted registered, as more families will demand registration to secure the government contribution towards childcare costs.
Free childcare versus supported childcare
We will ask the government to contribute to 15/30 hours rather than offer free childcare. This would allow parity with the benefits felt by families using a nursery and significantly open up the options presented to families when making childcare choices.
Opening a dialogue about ‘free’ childcare
The blanket exclusion of nannies is unacceptable and unfair. Furthermore, the promise of free childcare hours may not work for nannies.
Therefore, we suggest that a contribution equal to the relief given to a family using a nursery be made to the family employing a nanny. An arrangement like this would not impact the nanny’s salary but would provide families with the same level of relief.
But, off the back of a strong petition, we can start a dialogue with the government to find a solution that:
- Bring nannies into the scheme on terms that work
- Support more families and offer them more options
- Acknowledged the invaluable contribution nannies make in the UK
- Bring about parity across the childcare landscape
Sign and share
Signing the petition takes just a couple of minutes.
Please also consider who else you can share the petition with.
We appreciate your support.
Debunking some myths
Myth 1: Nannies are just for the wealthy
Nannies are not just the reserve of the wealthy. Sometimes, they are the only form of childcare that can meet the family’s demands for flexibility. Moreover, and especially with SEN roles, nannies offer levels of care that other forms of childcare struggle to meet.
Myth 2: The 15/30 hours scheme does not impact nannies
Nannies are losing roles to nurseries. Price-sensitive families select nurseries over nannies directly because of the government’s promise of 15/30 free (or supported) hours of childcare support.
Myth 3: Nannies pay is reduced if they are included in the ‘Free Childcare’ scheme
No, it won’t be. We ask the government to contribute towards certain childcare hours, not cap pay. So, their inclusion within the scheme would be on different terms to those of nursery workers.
I would also like to add that the government’s use of the word ‘Free’ is highly misleading. We want to challenge that, but one battle at a time!
Important note: This would not undermine or change the contract between the family and the nanny or affect their pay level.
Furthermore, roles should always be bound by a legal contract defining pay between the family and the nanny. If families get some help or a contribution from the government for ‘free’ childcare, it should not change that contract.
Please sign the petition to help us get nannies back on a level playing field.
