National changes to childcare voucher schemes

The childcare voucher scheme has now closed to new joiners.

Parents who are currently registered on Fideliti are able to remain in the scheme.

If you leave the Fideliti childcare voucher scheme for any reason, you can re-join up to a period of 52 weeks. You'll need to have remained at the University of Bath and have had a salary deduction taken or voucher issued within that time. After this period you will be classed as a new joiner and will be unable to re-join the scheme.

If you change employment you will also lose eligibility to the scheme.

More information is available on the Fideliti website.

If you would like to speak to someone from Fideliti, you can call the Fideliti helpline on: 0800 288 8727.

You can find information about additional childcare support available to parents on the Government website.

What childcare vouchers are

The childcare voucher scheme allows employees to exchange up to £243 per month, directly from their gross salary (before tax and national insurance are deducted) to pay for childcare costs. This means that employees can save money on the cost of childcare through tax and National Insurance savings.

The University of Bath childcare scheme is run in partnership with Fideliti. Please visit the Fideliti website for more information, including information on potential savings that can be made.

How to use them

You can use childcare vouchers in Ofsted registered childcare providers for children from 0 to 16 years old. This includes nurseries, child-minders, school breakfast and after-school clubs as well as holiday clubs.

Vouchers can only be used until 1 September after a child’s 15th birthday. If children are registered disabled vouchers can be used until 1 September after their 16th birthday.

If you are already part of the Fideliti childcare voucher scheme, you can take a portion of your salary as childcare vouchers. These vouchers are not subject to tax and national insurance deductions.

Such schemes are called a salary sacrifice scheme. When you sign up to join the scheme, you are agreeing to a change in your terms and conditions of employment.