The basis of the Home Retail Group Childcare Scheme is the tax and NIC savings which can be made through exchanging wages or salary, on which you would have paid tax and National Insurance (NIC), for nursery fees or Childcare Vouchers.

Salary sacrifice, the mechanism through which this operates, is recognised by the Government as a means of making childcare affordable and is designed to save you money on your childcare fees.

You can use "kidsunlimited Childcare Vouchers" to pay / part pay for other nurseries or for any other "Registered or Approved" childcare provider for children up to 16 years old. This includes care in childminders, nannies / au pairs, out of school schemes or holiday clubs.

The tax and NIC free limit for childcare vouchers is £243 per month or £55 per week. This means you may save up to £902 per year (standard rate tax payers) or £1095 per year (higher rate tax payers). This limit is per employee and not per family so both partners can save, whether through the Home Retail Group Childcare Scheme if your partner works for Home Retail Group, or if not, through your partner's employer.

You can "bank" your kidsunlimited Childcare Vouchers for use when you need to pay your childcare provider. E.g. you can save during the year for a summer holiday club. You just inform kidsunlimited when to pay and how much.

Experienced voucher professionals, kidsunlimited, are working closely with the Home Retail Group Benefits Team to deliver the scheme.

They will manage both the Childcare Voucher system, which is branded "kidsunlimited Childcare Vouchers". Any queries on the scheme can be directed to Kidsunlimited direct.