The Childcare Voucher Providers Association (CVPA) has this week (29th March) been launched as the industry body to represent Employer Supported Childcare providers and to promote best practice within the sector. The CVPA ensures carers, parents & employers receive the highest standard of service from childcare voucher providers.
With its establishment, the CVPA sets out a Code of Practice for its members, with particular emphasis on the required standards to ensure the secure delivery of parent’s voucher funds and to protect the integrity of their personal data. In addition members have a duty to demonstrate to the CVPA that these standards are maintained on an ongoing basis.
The launch of the CVPA comes at an important time for businesses and the childcare industry. Supporting working parents with high quality childcare that is secure and accessible is critical to the revival of the UK economy. Childcare voucher companies play an integral role in this initiative and the CVPA will act to ensure that parents, employers and childcare providers are effectively and efficiently served by its member organisations.
Fiona Shields, Chair of the CVPA said:
“The launch of the CVPA and the publication of the Code of Practice marks an important moment for the childcare voucher providers industry. By coming together to drive forward best practice, members of the CVPA are demonstrating their commitment to providing both parents and carers with the highest standards of service. The establishment of the CVPA will help ensure the successful and effective continuation of the childcare vouchers scheme and its role in developing a vibrant and diverse childcare sector.”
Iain McMath, Managing Director of Sodexo Motivation Solutions said:
“Childcare vouchers are one of the UK’s most popular employee benefits and they become increasingly important at a time where many companies are considering alternative and cost effective ways to retain and attract staff, without stretching salary budgets. Sodexo Motivation Solutions has long been a trusted provider and we welcome the Code of Practice, and the opportunity it presents to reassure employers that all members’ schemes are secure. We are proud that Fiona Shields, who led the team that founded Sodexo’s Childcare Voucher Scheme over 10 years ago, has been appointed as Chair of the Association.
Purnima Tanuku OBE, Chief Executive of National Day Nurseries Association said:
“NDNA welcomes the launch of the CVPA and we hope that it will help remove some of the common issues in the current voucher system. Nurseries understand the value of childcare vouchers to families, and how crucial they are for parents in ensuring that work pays. The CVPA sets out the minimum standards that parents and childcare providers can expect and we hope that voucher companies will accept the CVPA as an industry standard and work to ensure that they meet these. We look forward to the CVPA Code of Practice being implemented by voucher companies and hopefully hearing feedback about how this has improved the experience of vouchers for both families and nurseries.”