Nursery World - Tax-free childcare - 'A long wait and doesn't help the poorest'

Children's charities are concerned that families will have to wait for more than two years before the new tax-free childcare system is brought in and that not enough is being done to support families on the lowest incomes.

The scheme has been criticised by some commentators because households where both parents earn up to £150,000 each will be able to take advantage of the scheme, while families where one parent works part-time or stays at home will not be able to sign up for the vouchers.

Labour said that the new scheme did not compensate families on low and middle incomes that have lost childcare support through cuts to tax credits.

Stephen Twigg MP, Labour’s shadow education secretary, said, ‘Parents will be disappointed that three years into this Government they will not get any help with childcare costs for another two and a half years. While working parents won’t get any help before the next election, David Cameron is happy to help millionaires with a tax cut now.

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