With effect from April 1997 four year olds will be eligible for Nursery Vouchers. The vouchers will be exchangeable for three terms of good quality education in participating primary and nursery schools, pre - prep schools and playgroups, social services day nurseries and private nurseries. In Scotland, but not England and Wales, child minders who meet the necessary requirements will also be able to accept the vouchers.
Who will be entitled to a voucher?
The voucher covers from the term after a child's fourth birthday until the term in which a child turns five. This means that the voucher applies to the year leading up to the statutory school age. The term "nursery voucher" can be misleading because a four year old child in a reception class will need a voucher but a three year old in a nursery will not.
How much is the voucher worth?
Nursery vouchers will be available for at least five sessions of education a week of about two and half hours each, for thirty three weeks of the year.
The vouchers value is ú1100 or ú367 a term or ú6.67 a session. This is often more than the playgroup fee but often less than the cost of private provision and parents may have to "top up".
How do parents get their vouchers?
Capita, the agency contracted to administer the scheme, will write to all eligible parents in Janurary and invite them to apply. Parents then need to send back the form and will receive a voucher pack each term. The voucher is in five parts so that parents can, if they wish, use different providers to make up the five sessions each week. Up to two providers can be used however, the vast majority of parents use only one provider. The pack also includes a list of local providers.
Any parent who is not contacted may ring the Voucher Helpline on 0345 543345. Parents who want to move their child at half term should also ring for a booklet on how to go about this.
Who needs a voucher?
1. All four year olds in maintained schools. This includes children already in both Reception and nursery classes.
2. All four year olds in private schools or the vountary sector who belong to the scheme.
3. Without the voucher the school or Local Education Authority (LEA) cannot collect the money and pupils will not be provided with a place.
What happens if a parent does not have a voucher?
Parents who have lost their voucher can get a new one from Capita.
Each school is issued with a small number of "blue forms", school-issued application forms. These forms can only be used in exceptional circumstances. The forms have to be completed by the school on behalf of the parent.
Summary
The nursery voucher scheme operates as follows:
1. Capita receives parents details from child benefit data-base.
2. Capita writes to parents with application form.
3. Parents apply for vouchers.
4. Parents choose a nursery provider and apply with their voucher.
5. Nursery setting collects voucher and sends either direct to Capita or the Local Authority.
6. Local Authority sends all school vouchers to Capita.
7. Capita sends the money to the Local Authority or the provider.
For further information please contact the Voucher Helpline, 0345 543345, or SCE (UK):
