Registering with childcare vouchers

**mumofone** · 29-03-2015, 05:37 PM

When registering on the childcare vouchers system there appeared to only be an option to tick that you were part of the childcare register but there was no mention of the early years register. Did anyone else have this and what did you do?

**moggy** · 29-03-2015, 06:05 PM

There are loads of different childcare voucher companies (like Care4, Kiddivouchers, BusyBees, ComputerShare etc) and they all have their own registration processes. They all need you to be Ofsted registered and you need to give your EY number and copy of your certificate.

Which company are you registering with? I'd just give them a ring in the morning to see what you need to tick, I am sure it is a simple answer. I am registered with several voucher companies and all have been easy to sign up to.

**bunyip** · 30-03-2015, 06:43 AM

Originally Posted by mumofone

When registering on the childcare vouchers system there appeared to only be an option to tick that you were part of the childcare register but there was no mention of the early years register. Did anyone else have this and what did you do?

'Phone the voucher company and ask them. They know everyone has a first time, and it's in their interests to help you have a hassle-free experience. They do a highly unspecialised job (taking money from one account and putting it in another - not exactly mind-taxing stuff

) so they've already worked out that they only compete with one another on who can offer the best customer service.

Be aware the different companies have different registration systems. These vary from the wholly online (taking seconds) to those which insist on being sent a photocopy of your Ofsted certificate, which may take a month or more to move across their desk.

The other problem I've had is that I once registered with the wrong company. OK, so I'm an expert at c0ck1ng things up, but even a sensible person could make this mistake, because some of the CV companies have similar names and parents can be a bit vague about "my employer's discount voucher thingy." I find the safest way to avoid "doing a bunyip" (

) again is to ask the parents to provide the name of the company and their 'phone number and web address too.

**moggy** · 30-03-2015, 07:04 AM

If you don't have a scanner, photographing your certificate and emailing it to the company speeds things up- all the voucher companies I have registered with have been happy with this so far.