From April 2005, families on incomes of up to £;59,000 will be eligible for Working Tax Credit support for nannies to provide childcare in their own home. Before being approved under the scheme, Nannies will have to provide evidence that they

• are 18 years or older
  
  
• have a relevant qualification or have attended an approved induction course in childcare
  
  
• have a certificate in first aid that is suitable to the care of babies and children and is not more than three years old at the time of approval, e.g. dealing with emergencies, resuscitation, shock, choking and anaphylactic shock, and
  
  
• have nothing in their background that makes them unsuitable to care for children, i.e. in an enhanced disclosure check from the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB).

In England, the Childcare Approval Scheme will be operated by Nestor Primecare Services Limited, under contract to Department for Education and Skills (DfES). The Scheme will allow childcare in the child's home and child-minding care for over 7-year-olds to be eligible for approval for financial support purposes.

The scheme will be self funding. An approval fee of £;96 including VAT will be payable to cover the cost of the CRB disclosure and administration.

Applications will be accepted from 4th January 2005 and those approved before 6 April 2005 will come into effect from that date.

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Source:
www.gnn.gov.uk/content/detail.asp?ReleaseID=138577
www.surestart.gov.uk/childcareapproval