Over 35,000 parents have responded to an online questionnaire that is being run as part of a consultation on Tax-Free Childcare – with a day to go before the questionnaire closes on Friday 27 September.

The government announced at Budget 2013 that it will introduce a new Tax-Free Childcare scheme for working families. The scheme will provide 20 per cent of working families’ childcare costs, up to a limit of £1,200 for each child.

The short questionnaire was launched as part of the government’s wider consultation on the new childcare scheme. It was designed specifically with parents in mind, making it easy and accessible as possible for them to share their views on how the new scheme should operate – without having to read the full 68 page consultation document and formally respond.

Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne commented:

This government is on the side of people who want to work hard and get on in life. Tax-Free Childcare will help working parents by giving them more choice and better access to the quality, affordable childcare that they need.

We want to make sure that the new scheme works well, and meets the needs of working families which is why we are seeking the views of parents and other interested parties.

I am delighted that so many parents have taken the opportunity to respond to the consultation already, and would urge others to have their say and help shape the policy before the questionnaire closes.

There is still time for parents to take the survey before it closes Friday 27 September. The wider consultation will run until Monday 14 October.

The government will publish the response to the consultation as a whole this winter.

Photo by Theen May on Flickr. Used under creative commons.