Young people on the Island dreaming of treading the boards, singing and dancing have been given a boost, after a local specialist company was granted the ability to accept childcare vouchers and tax-free childcare payments.
Theatretrain Isle of Wight, which is based in Ryde, has announced the news after gaining Ofsted registration as a childcare provider – to go with its status as a registered tax-free childcare provider.
It means the performance company can now accept both childcare vouchers from those who can access these through their employer and/or tax-free childcare for those in self-employment or without access to the former, although some restrictions do apply.
Tax-free childcare is a UK-wide offer. Eligible parents with children under 12 can get up to £2,000 per child, per year, towards their childcare costs (or up to £4,000 for disabled children under 17).
Parents entering the scheme open an online childcare account from which they can pay their local Theatretrain Company directly.
Julie Caudle, company director at Theatretrain Isle of Wight, which is 1 of 80 across the UK comments;
“This is obviously very welcome news for us as a performing arts company, as it underlines our commitment to quality, rigorous processes and best practice when it comes to looking after our young people.
“However, what is more important, given the challenges that many families face right now, is that this opens up the performing arts to everyone. We want as many children as possible on the Isle of Wight who want to explore the performing arts to be able to do so.
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