Introducing the Ofsted Childcare Register (OCR)

The new Ofsted Childcare Register (OCR), introduced in April 2007, has now replaced the Childcare Approval Scheme (CAS). This section of the Nannytax website has been created to help answer some of the questions we have received from parents, nannies and nanny agencies as well as provide you with some useful contacts.

Please see the left-hand column for topics covered in this section and contact details for both Ofsted and a childcare voucher company.

Below are the most frequently asked questions about the scheme by nanny employers, nannies and nanny agencies. If you have any further questions you would like to see answered here, please send them to asa@nannytax.co.uk

Q: Is registration on the voluntary part of the Ofsted Childcare Register compulsory for nannies?
A: Nannies are not required to be registered on the OCR (or approved on the CAS). Registration is entirely voluntary. However, to be able to claim the childcare element of working tax credits or employer supported childcare vouchers, parents must use nannies who are either approved or registered.

Q: Will registration still be voluntary from September 2009?
A: Yes, registration will continue to be voluntary for nannies. There are currently no plans to make registration for nannies mandatory.

Q: Do nannies who are already approved on the CAS have to be registered by Ofsted?
A: No. Nannies who are already approved, or gained approval on the CAS before September 30, 2007 do not need to be registered by Ofsted until their approval expires. Once their approval expires they will need to apply to Ofsted (if they wish to be registered). 

Q: How long does the registration process for the OCR take?
A: The length of time it takes to become registered depends primarily on how long it takes for the CRB check to be completed. This can vary a great deal from a few weeks to, in a minority of cases, a few months for the process to be complete. It is recommended that nannies allow plenty of time when renewing.

Q: How much it cost for nanny to be registered?
A: £100, which includes the cost of a CRB check. We are expecting to see a slight increase in line with inflation at some point in 2008.

Q: Who should be expected to cover the cost?
A: The parents benefit financially and as a result they often end up covering the cost. Howver, it could be argued that as the registration gains momentum nannies may be perceived as more employable, and so in the future may be expected to foot the bill. Be aware that if the parents do pay for the registration it is considered a benefit in kind and should be declared as such.

Q: Can the childcare vouchers be applied retrospectively?
A: No they can only be used once nanny has been issued with her unique reference number.