Tax-Free Childcare, an alternative
The Government has introduced an alternative called tax-free childcare which is independent from payroll. You set up an account and every time you pay money in, the Government will top it up by 20%. The money can then be used to pay for approved childcare. It offers greater flexibility as you don’t need to pay in a fixed monthly amount and the potential savings are greater for those with high childcare costs. You will need to check that you meet the eligibility criteria and that the childcare provider is able to accept payments via tax-free childcare.
There is a lot of useful information on www.childcarechoices.gov.uk and there is a link to a calculator to help you work out what you are entitled to.