Finding Childcare Is One of the Most Difficult Aspects of Getting Back to Work for a Parent

April 2008 Childcare

Finding childcare is one of the most difficult aspects of getting back to work for a parent. You have to find something suitable for your child which fits in with your work patterns and is affordable and in your area! This factsheet aims to explain the types of childcare available, what you need to take into account when choosing childcare, and how you can get help with paying for it. If you have disabled children, you may also want to look at our Childcare for Disabled Children factsheet.

What to take into account

The factors you need to take into account when choosing childcare very much depend on your child and your working situation.

Your child's needs:

. How old is your child? What level of care does he or she need?

. Does your child prefer to be among other children or would one to one care be more suitable?

. Is it important that the same person cares for your child all the time?

. Does your child have any special requirements, for example your child may require a special diet or extra care because he/she is disabled.

Your needs:

. What hours do you need childcare for?

. Do you work at the same time each week or does your shift pattern change?

. Do you have to work through school holidays?

. Do you work very early in the morning or late in the evening?

. Will you have time every morning to get your child up, ready and take him or her to a carer? www.workingfamilies.org.uk Free Legal Helpline 0800 013 0313 April 2008 Childcare

. Will you need any other services like babysitting or help with housework?

Other considerations:

. What childcare is available in your area?

. What can you afford to pay?

. Do you have transport to take your child to a carer?

. Do you have space in your home for a live-in carer?

. What will you do if your child or the carer is ill? Note: you do have certain rights to time off for emergencies; please see Working Families' Time Off Factsheet.

Of course you may have other things to consider and there are no "right" ways of working out childcare.

What is the difference between registered and unregistered childcare?

In England

Registered childcare includes childminders, nurseries and out-of-school clubs. For some types of childcare, registration with OFSTED is compulsory, for others it is voluntary. For care of a child in the child’s own home, registration is voluntary. Registered childcare has to meet National Standards which set out the minimum you can expect, such as how many children per adult and how much space the children have. Registered carers are also police checked.

Approved care is care which is not compulsory to register but which has been approved annually by the Childcare Approval Scheme. The scheme is being phased out from October 2007 and replaced by voluntary registration with OFSTED You will still be able to claim money from Working Tax Credit or get Childcare vouchers tax-free as long as the existing approval lasts. Once the approval is finished the carer will need to register with Ofsted. www.workingfamilies.org.uk Free Legal Helpline 0800 013 0313 April 2008 Childcare

In general, you can get help with childcare costs through Tax Credits and the childcare voucher scheme for registered or approved care only. Care by a relative in your own home is not claimable. Care by a relative in their home is only claimable where the relative also looks after children to whom they are not related. The definition of relative is quite wide and includes relatives by marriage and by affinity (partners), even if they are not blood relatives of the child.

In Scotland

Information about childcare in Scotland can be obtained from www.scottishchildcare.gov.uk.

In Wales

Information about childcare in Wales can be obtained from http://new.wales.gov.uk and from www.childcareapprovalschemewales.co.uk

In Northern Ireland Information about childcare in Northern Ireland can be obtained from http://www.nicma.org.

Discrimination and childcare providers

The Race Relations Act, the Sex Discrimination Act and the Disability Discrimination Act give service providers such as childminders, nurseries and out-of-school clubs the obligation not to discriminate. In addition to this they have to meet national standards which include a commitment to equal opportunities and they have to "be proactive" in welcoming disabled children.

www.workingfamilies.org.uk Free Legal Helpline 0800 013 0313 April 2008 Childcare

If your child is disabled, the way you give people information about your child's needs can make a difference. If you focus on what your child's needs are, rather than the name of his/her condition, the carer will know what to expect and be able to view your child as a person.

Under the Disability Discrimination Act service providers have to make "reasonable adjustments" to cater for disabled people. What is a reasonable adjustment would depend on the size and the resources of the service provider, so a large nursery would be expected to do more than a childminder. For more information on finding childcare for disabled children call Janet on 020 7253 7243 or see our Childcare for Disabled Children factsheet.

Types of childcare

Informal Childcare Family and friends

Most parents use informal networks of family and friends to care for their children. If you have this support, it can make combining work and caring for a child much easier. The advantages of having someone you know well looking after your children are obvious but there can be disadvantages as well.

. The carer's circumstances may change, for example, a new job or an illness may mean they have to stop looking after your child.

. If you have different opinions on how your child should be raised, it can be more difficult to raise them with someone you are close to than where the relationship is professional.

. If the care is in the other person's home and you are paying them, they may have to register as a childminder if they are looking after under 8s. Check with OFSTED. www.workingfamilies.org.uk Free Legal Helpline 0800 013 0313 April 2008 Childcare

. If you want to claim towards your childcare costs from Tax Credits your care must be registered or approved. Family members can register as childminders and you can claim for the care they are providing. However, you cannot claim for a relative providing care in the child's own home under any circumstances. (see above for more information)

Out of home childcare Childminders

Childminders are self-employed and usually work in their own homes (there are exceptions, see below). Childminders must register with their Local Authority and must complete a pre registration course and a first aid course. They are not required to have formal training in childcare, although some do have the Certificate in Childminding Practice. Many childminders are parents themselves and the care will be in a "family" environment rather than being very formal. Childminders' hours are usually more flexible than a day nursery but few will take children after 7 pm.

Advantages of using a childminder

. Registered and inspected.

. Hours often more flexible than a nursery.

. Children can be looked after with brothers or sisters of different ages.

. "Family" environment means children can interact with other children.

. If the childminder is a parent, he or she will know about local activities and have ties to the area.

. Usually cheaper than a nursery.

. May be able to get some of the money back through Tax Credits (see below).

Disadvantages of using a childminder

. Your child has to be taken and collected.

. Usually your child will not be able to go to the childminder if your child is sick.

. You will need to make alternative arrangements if the childminder is ill or on holiday.

The registering authority will:

. Check the childminder is suitable to look after children.

. Regulate how many children the childminder can look after at once. This depends on the ages of the children and the space available.

. Carry out police checks on all adults in the childminder's household.

. Check the childminder's home is safe.

. Carry out an annual check.

. Make sure the childminder keeps records on each child with information such as health problems and emergency numbers.

. Make sure every childminder has suitable insurance.

Childminders can look after older children as well as under eights, as long as caring for the older children does not affect the care of the younger ones. If your child is at school you need to check if the childminder picks up from that school.

Interviewing a childminder to check he or she is right for your child is as important as when you are employing a nanny or other care in your own home (see below). In addition you will need to ask questions about his or her home such as if he or she has any pets. You will also have to negotiate things like how much you pay and if you pay when you're on holiday or if your child is ill. Childminders are self-employed so you don't need to worry about tax and National Insurance but it is a good idea to have a written contract. The National Childminding Association sells model contracts - call 0800 169 4486

Nurseries Advantages of using a nursery

Nurseries provide care, play and . Registered and inspected by Ofsted education for pre school children. All . Can provide a wide range of equipment and nurseries have to meet national standards activities. and are inspected by Ofsted. For . Your child can make lots of friends. example, the national standards require . Most are open throughout the year. all supervisors and half of other staff to be . Don't normally close due to staff illness. qualified and all staff to receive basic training in health and safety. Disadvantages of using a nursery

. Opening hours can be limited, usually 8 am - In England, a nursery's Ofsted report is 6 pm. available to read at the nursery, at a local . Fees can be expensive (but you may be able library or on line at www.ofsted.gov.uk . to get some back through Tax Credits). In Scotland see . You have to drop off and collect your child. www.carecommission.com . Not all children settle well in a busy In Northern Ireland and Wales check with environment. the relevant inspecting body. . If your child is ill you may have to keep him or her at home. As well as checking that the people . It can be difficult to find places for under running the nursery and the nursery twos. Siblings might not be cared for building itself are suitable, the registering together. authority also reports on how well the nursery is doing in teaching the children.

Nurseries can be run by private companies, Local Authorities, community groups or employers. Most nurseries are open every working day, and 8 am - 6 pm are

typical opening hours. Nursery classes attached to schools usually only take children for a 2 ½ hour session each day either in the morning or afternoon in term time only. While they offer play and stimulation for children the hours are not usually convenient for working parents. If your child attends a nursery class you will need to use some form of additional care - usually a childminder - to collect/drop off your child and care for them during school holidays.

Before choosing a nursery you should visit it, ideally more than once and at different times of day. You should ask yourself:

. Do the children seem happy?

. Is the nursery run around the needs of the children?

. Is the building and garden pleasant and suitable to play in?

. Are the staff happy and approachable? Do they welcome your child?

. Is staff turnover high? An unstable team is not good for the children and may point to problems in how the nursery is run.

. What are the staff's qualifications and experience?

You will need to ask questions to find out if the nursery is right for your child, for example,

. Is the nursery very play-based or more like school?

. Can they accommodate your child's needs? Will play and learning be appropriate to your child's abilities?

. What food is provided? Can they provide meals for children with special religious needs or with allergies?

. Will they expect your child to be able to feed him or herself or be potty trained? If your child is not potty trained will you have to bring nappies in for him or her?

. What happens if you are late to pick up your child?

Out-of-School Clubs

More and more schools are offering after school clubs. Some also offer breakfast clubs. These may be at the school or in a suitable venue such as a community centre. Some local authorities offer holiday clubs as well.

You can find out a lot by visiting a club but you may also want to ask about quiet areas, whether there is outdoor play and if any snacks are provided.

You will also need to find out what age groups can be provided for - it can be hard to find out-of-school clubs for older children.

Advantages of out-of-school clubs To find childminders, . Usually near or at your child's school. nurseries or out-of- . Registered or approved so you can claim some school clubs in your costs back through Tax Credits (see below). area, ring Childcare Link . Wide range of activities. on 08000 96 02 96 or go

. Your child may have friends who attend. to www.childcarelink.gov.uk . Unlikely to close for staff illness.

Disadvantages of out-of-school clubs

. Opening hours inflexible.

. Younger/older brothers and sisters may not be included.

. There might be a maximum age limit.

. Your child might want to get away from school at the end of the day.

"In Home" Care - Care in your own home

Having someone to look after your children in your own home is essential for some people, for example if you work very early or late shifts or if your child needs special equipment which cannot be moved out of the house. In home care can also be more convenient as you don't have to get your children up and ready every morning and the carer may be able to help with the housework.

In home carers can live with you in your house or come in daily. Au pairs are an exception to this; they must be given a room in your home.

Advantages of live in carers

. The carer may be able to babysit at short notice.

. If the carer or your child is only mildly ill, the carer may still be able to look after your child.

. The carer will be less likely to leave suddenly.

. Live in carers are paid less than ones that come in daily.

Disadvantages of live in carers

. You lose your privacy.

. You may feel not be comfortable about having a nanny or au pair and his or her guests in your home.

. You may spend more on bills, food etc.

Nannies

Nannies are not regulated, so although they often are trained and/or very experienced in childcare, that is not always the case. You should always check a potential nanny's qualifications. A nanny can be registered with Ofsted (see above). www.workingfamilies.org.uk Free Legal Helpline 0800 013 0313 April 2008 Childcare

Nannies can be expensive, especially if you only have one child. If you have more than one child or set up a nanny share, then it can be more cost effective. Nanny sharing is where a nanny looks after the children of more than one family, either at the same time or in "shifts". If you are thinking about nanny sharing you should check with your insurance company that you have the right cover and with ofsted about registration requirements.You also need to work out in advance what happens if the needs of one of the families changes.

Finding a nanny.

Parents and nannies often advertise though local papers and on notice boards in places like libraries and community centres where children's activities are held. A school notice board is a good place to advertise for a nanny share.

You can also advertise in national magazines like Nursery World and The Lady or at colleges where nannies are trained.

It may be easier to use a nanny agency, especially if you are looking for a live in nanny. Nanny agencies will charge you either a fixed fee or a percentage of the nanny's salary. This can be more expensive than advertising yourself.

A good nanny agency will check qualifications and references, although you should still check them for yourself. Nanny agencies are listed in the telephone directory.

Always remember, although Nanny Agencies have to be registered employment agencies, anyone can be a nanny and anyone can set up a nanny agency.

Advantages of using a nanny

. They have the time to give individual attention to your child or children.

. Your child remains in the home.

. Nannies can fit around your schedule, especially if they live in.

. They may be able to do some housework.

Disadvantages of using a nanny

. Nannies often move jobs frequently and so don't always offer long-term continuity.

. You must take into account the extra expenses of the house being occupied all day.

. They may have visitors while you are not there.

. You will have all the obligations of being an employer.

Mother's Helps

Mother's Helps are not usually trained in childcare but are there to help with things like housework, cooking and shopping. Like nannies they can come in daily or live in your house.

To find a mother's help you can advertise locally on notice boards or in the local paper or rely on word of mouth. A mother's help would not normally be registered with Ofsted unless she was willing to gain a childcare qualification and do a first aid course (see above).

Advantages of mother’s helps

. Can be low cost.

. Useful to have help with the housework.

. Can be flexible.

Disadvantages of mother's helps

. Not always trained in childcare.

. You will have all the obligations of being an employer.

Au pairs

An au pair is a single person aged between 17 and 27 who comes from abroad to live as a member of your family and learn English. Au pairs from outside the EU must have a special visa which is usually for a year and will restrict what they can do. Although it is not recommended that they be left in charge of pre school children, they may be able to drop off and pick up children from school and help in the school holidays.

Au pairs must:

. Be given free food and lodging including a room of their own;

. Have two full days off per week.

. Be paid a reasonable weekly allowance (minimum wage legislation does not apply to au pairs, but the Immigration and Nationality Directorate sets down a weekly minimum, currently £60);

Au pairs must not:

. Stay in the UK for more than two years;

. Work more than five hours a day.

To find an au pair you can look in the telephone book for au pair agencies or contact the International Au Pair Agency on +45 33 33 96 00 (Denmark) www.iapa.org.

Advantages of au pairs

. Costs are low.

. Your child can be looked after at home.

. They can teach your child a new language and culture.

. They can babysit and do light housework.

Disadvantages of au pairs

. They are not trained in childcare.

. They can only work 5 five hours a day.

. They should be treated as a member of your family. You will have almost a parental role towards them.

. They usually only stay for 6 - 12 months.

. There might not be a chance for a face to face interview.

. Depending on their English there might be a language barrier.

. You may have to arrange English lessons for them.

Registered in home care

Childcare in your home can be registered through Ofsted, see above. This will mean that you can claim costs through tax credits, depending on your income, or benefit from the tax relief on childcare vouchers.

For more details call Ofsted on 08456 404040.

Employing a carer for your child

Whether you employ someone through an agency or advertise yourself, employing someone is a daunting task. You will have responsibilities towards your employee as would any employer. The first stage of finding the right person for your child is to write a job description. This is a good idea even if you are going through an agency, as it will help you focus on exactly what you want. The job description should set out what you expect the person to do. Do you expect the person to cook? What housework would they be expected to do?

You can use the job description to create a personal profile which you can use to check against potential candidates.

It is useful to put together an application form so that you get all the information you need. This does not need to be complicated, you just type out the questions you need to ask such as details of qualifications, employment history and so on.

You may want to interview candidates alone at first and only introduce them to your child if you feel confident they will be suitable. Think about what questions you want to ask. You will want to ask about their experience with children and why they want the job. You will also want to ask questions specific to your child. For example, if your child is hearing impaired you might want to ask about the candidate's knowledge of British Sign Language.

Always ask for at least two references. These should be checked out. It is wise to telephone the referees as you may pick up on any doubts they have.

You should always ask about gaps in the person's employment and check any qualifications they claim to have. You may want to ask if they are willing to be registered with Ofsted, see above. If you are paying for the carer with Direct Payments (see below), you may be expected to have them police checked.

Once you have found the right person to look after your child you will need to draw up a contract.

You will also have to check you have sufficient insurance and that you are fulfilling your obligations about working time and the minimum wage.

If you need advice on being an employer, call ACAS on 0845 747 47 47.

You will also be responsible for the employee's tax and National Insurance. Help is available from the Inland Revenue New Employer Helpline on 08457 143 143 and there are payroll companies who will do the paperwork for a fee.

Paying for childcare

Childcare can be very expensive. Average costs vary depending on the type of care and where you are in the country. There are ways of getting help to pay for childcare, depending on the age of your child and your circumstances.

Tax Credits

Families using registered childcare may be able to get some of the costs back through Working Tax Credits, depending on their income. Tax Credit rules are complicated and if you want to know about Tax Credits generally then you should look at our Tax Credits and Benefits factsheet. The rules for the childcare element alone are as follows:

. Childcare costs can be claimed for children up to the end of the week including 1st of September following their 15th birthday, or the 1st of September following their 16th birthday if the child is registered blind, or has been taken off the blind register within the last 28 weeks, or you receive Disability Living Allowance for the child (including where Disability Living Allowance has been suspended because the child is hospital).

. The childcare must be registered or approved and not provided by a close relative if it is being given in your own home.

. If it is a one-parent household the parent must work 16 hours or more. If there are two adults both must work 16 hours or more unless one is ‘incapacitated’ (e.g. getting Disability Living Allowance or Incapacity Benefit), in hospital or in prison.

. The maximum childcare costs taken into account are £175 a week for one child or £300 a week for more than one child (2008/9 rates).

. The maximum award is 80% of what you pay or 80% of the maximum childcare costs, whichever is lower. This means the most help you can get is £140 a week for one child or £240 for two or more children.

. If you stop using childcare for at least 4 consecutive weeks you must tell the Tax Credit Office. There can be a penalty for not disclosing this within one month of the change, as well as having to pay back any overpayment. If your childcare follows a pattern, such as term time only, you can claim for an average.

. If your average childcare costs reduce by £10 or more per week for at least 4 consecutive weeks you must tell the Tax Credit Office within one month of the change, as there can be a penalty for not disclosing this, as well as having to pay back any overpayment. You do not have to report increases, but if an increase is at least £10 a week and lasts for at least 4 consecutive weeks you should report it within three months of the start of the increase to make sure you get all the money you are entitled to.

. If you use Childcare Vouchers take the amount of the vouchers away from your total cost of childcare (but the value of the vouchers will not count as income).

. The amount you will actually get will depend on your household income.

If you are unsure about what you are entitled to, please ring the Working Families helpline on 0800 013 0313 or the Tax Credit Helpline on 0845 300 3900. You may also wish to use our on line Tax Credit Estimator, available on our website at www.workingfamilies.org.uk.

Direct Payments

Direct Payments are a way of offering more flexibility to disabled people and their families. The scheme originally applied just to adults but has been extended to young people and children under 18. If your child has been assessed as needing a service then instead of your local authority arranging it, you can be given the cost of the care and arrange it yourself.

This is useful for families in many situations such as those on long waiting lists for a service, those who live far away from where services are provided and those who feel they don't have enough control over the services provided.

Direct Payments can be used to employ someone to provide the service or to pay for services such as a nursery or out-of-school club. You cannot use them to pay for council run services.

Example

If your child has been assessed as needing 6 hours domiciliary care a week it might be that your local authority can only provide this for two days at three hours a day. If you feel that, for example, two hours a day after school 3 times a week would be better for your family, then you could ask for the cost of the care as a Direct Payment and employ someone to provide that care in the way you want.

Using Direct Payments to employ someone can seem harder than letting the council arrange care. It is your responsibility to find the right person (who may need background checks), interview, work out the contract and pay the person's tax and National Insurance (though the payments do allow for this).

Your Social Services department should be able to give you advice and put you in contact with agencies that can help.

For more information call Janet on 020 72537243 or see our Childcare for Disabled Children factsheet.

Nursery Education Grants

All three and four year olds are entitled to up to 2 ½ hours of early education per weekday during school term time (33 weeks per year). The local authority pays the grant directly to your nursery. This can be used either to gain a free place at a nursery school or the money can be used towards paying for a private nursery.

Childcare vouchers and workplace schemes

Some employers offer vouchers towards childcare costs to parents, often as a "salary sacrifice" scheme. This means you are paid less cash but given vouchers which can be used in some nurseries. If your childcare is registered or approved, you will not pay Income Tax or National Insurance on up to £55 per week.

If your employer does not offer this, you could suggest they start as it would save them and you money, although you should consider long term implications like the effect on your pension. It will also affect your "average salary" for things like Statutory Maternity Pay. You should also note that childcare vouchers will affect your Tax Credit award. They are generally not recommended for those who receive more than the family element of Child Tax Credit, unless their childcare costs are more than the maximum allowed (see above). The Daycare Trust has detailed factsheets about childcare vouchers for both employers and employees.

New Deal for Lone Parents.

If you are a lone parent who wishes to start work the New Deal for Lone Parents has discretion to offer help with childcare as you look for work or start some kinds of training. Please call 0875 606 2626 or go to your local Jobcentre Plus for more details.

Help for students

The Daycare Trust produces factsheets on help with childcare for students (see below)

Useful numbers Free advice line giving employment

Working Families law advice Telephone: 0845 747 47 47 1-3 Berry St, London, EC1V 0AA Minicom:08456 06 16 00 Telephone: 0800 013 0313 www.acas.org.uk Orderline for factsheets: 020 7490

2414 Childcare Link Waving not drowning project for Find childcare in your area parents of disabled children: Janet Telephone: 08000 96 02 96 on 020 7253 7243 www.childcarelink.gov.uk www.workingfamilies.org.uk Council for Awards in Children's [email protected] Care & Education Registered Charity No 1099808 Information about qualifications for Company No 4727690 working in childcare. Beaufort House, Grosvenor Road, 4children (formally Kids' Clubs St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 3AW Network) www.cache.org.uk Information for parents including [email protected] advice on setting up after school clubs City Reach, 5 Greenwich View Place, London, E14 9NN Fax: 020 75376012 Telephone: 020 7512 2112 www.4children.org.uk [email protected]

ACAS www.workingfamilies.org.uk Free Legal Helpline 0800 013 0313 April 2008 Childcare

Disability Alliance National Day Nurseries Information about benefits for Association disabled people Information about choosing childcare Universal House, 88-94 Wentworth and working in childcare. Street, London, E1 7SA Oak House , Woodvale Road, Fax: 020 7247 8765 Brighouse, West Yorkshire, HD6 Telephone: 020 7247 8776 4AB www.disabilityalliance.org Fax: 0870 774 4243 [email protected] Tel: 0870 774 4244 www.ndna.org.uk HM Revenue and Customs [email protected] Employer Helpline Guidance for first time employers National Minimum Wage Enquiries New Employers (NESI): 0845 60 70 Information about the minimum 143 wage. You can also complain if you Established Employers: 08457 143 are not being paid the minimum 143 wage National Minimum Wage Enquiries, National Childminding BP7102, Norham House, Benton Association Park View, Newcastle upon Tyne, Information about finding or NE98 1ZZ becoming a childminder. Telephone: 0845 6000 678 NCMA, Royal Court, 81 Tweedy Minicom: 0845 915 3296 Road, Bromley, Kent BR1 1TG Northern Ireland: 0845 6500 207 Telephone: 0845 880 0044 www.hmrc.gov.uk/nmw www.ncma.org.uk [email protected] Nursery World

Admiral House, 66-68 East Apply for tax credits, alert the Inland Smithfield, London, E1W 1BX Revenue to a change in Telephone: 020 7782 3000 circumstances or ask for help in www.nursery-world.co.uk filling out the form. Telephone: 0845 300 3900 Textphone 0845 608 6000 Ofsted Northern Ireland 0845 603 2000 The body that registers and checks Northern Ireland Textphone 0845 schools and childcare for the under 607 6078 eights www.taxcredits.inlandrevenue. Alexandra House, 33 Kingsway, gov.uk London, WC2B 6SE Telephone: 08456 404040 The British Association for Early Orderline: 0700 263 7833 Childhood Education www.ofsted.gov.uk Information on early years education [email protected] including leaflets about encouraging young children to learn. Professional Association of 136 Cavell St, London, E1 2JA Nursery Nurses Telephone: 020 7539 5400 For information about qualifications www.early-education.org.uk for nannies [email protected] 2 St James' Court, Friar Gate, Derby, DE1 1BT Telephone: 01332 372337 www.pat.org.uk [email protected]

Tax Credits Helpline

The Daycare Trust Telephone: (+45) 33 17 00 66 Information about childcare including (Denmark) nursery vouchers and help for www.iapa.org students 21 St George's Road, London, SE1 The Lady 6ES Advertise for a nanny. Telephone: 020 7840 3350 39-40 Bedford St, London, WC2E www.daycaretrust.org.uk 9ER [email protected] Telephone: 020 7379 4717 www.lady.co.uk

The advice given in this factsheet is accurate at April 2008. It may not be accurate after The that date. Immigration Working Families operates a complaints procedure to ensure any complaints are dealt with and thoroughly and fairly. If you would like to have details of the procedure or to make a complaint please contact the Chief Executive at Working Families. Nationality

Directorate Information on au pairs, and immigration. Lunar House, 40 Wellesley Rd, Croydon, CR9 2BY Telephone: 0870 606 7766 minicom 0800 38 98 289 If you require a copy of www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk this leaflet in large print, please call 020 7253 The International Au Pair 7243 Association c/o FIYTO, Bredegade 25 H, DK 1260, Copenhagen K, Denmark

www.workingfamilies.org.uk Free Legal Helpline 0800 013 0313