Childcare Choice, a specialist childcare voucher company, commissionedmarket research agency Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) to survey over 1,000working parents. It found that 21 per cent were paying for some kind ofchildcare, but only 2 per cent were using childcare vouchers.
Of 223 parents paying for childcare, over two-thirds were aware ofchildcare vouchers, yet only 12 per cent used them. The survey foundthere were misconceptions about the cost and practicalities ofvouchers.
Most parents were uninformed about potential savings. Almost a third didnot know what savings they could make, while 55 per cent underestimatedthe savings. Over a quarter believed the annual saving to be under500.
The survey found that most parents were unable to use childcare vouchersbecause employers had not set up a scheme. Only 18 per cent of workingparents had a voucher scheme at work. This fell to 5 per cent amongsmall and medium-sized businesses.
Parents with voucher schemes at work who did not take them up said themain reason was that they believed it would be too much hassle.
Iain McMath, managing director of Childcare Choice, said, 'It takes just15 minutes to apply for childcare vouchers online - time well spent whenyou could be saving a significant amount of money.'
'With most working parents unaware of the savings available, it's nowonder they don't make time to sign up,' he said.
