Morton Michel and News Headlines

• Morton Michel - website redesign
• We are currently in the process of re-designing our website, to email us with your comments .....click here
• Watch Out for Winter - be prepared in the event of cold weather
• To download our leaflet which gives tips and advice on how to reduce risks to you and your property .....click here
• Nursery Management Today Awards 2009 - Morton Michel Sponsors Award
• Congratulations to Susan Jones, from the Nic Bec Day Nursery in Northampton, for winning the Individual Nursery Award 2009 sponsored by Morton Michel.
• Competition - 2009 design a fruit or vegetable, closing date December 12th
• For details on how to enter the competition.... click here
• Employers' Liability Insurance - now available

• If you employ a nanny or any other domestic staff, it is a legal requirement to have Employer's Liability Insurance cover in force. Morton Michel's new insurance scheme can now be purchased by one simple phone call and without the need to fill out any forms. For more details call Dave or Martin on: 0845 2570115.

November 2009

• No U-turn Over End of Childcare Voucher Tax Break

• Since 2005 the childcare voucher scheme has eased the cost of childcare for many parents, by giving up to £243 a month paid direct from their wages to a nursery or childminder before tax and national insurance is deducted. If both parents work, the scheme can save a family up to £1,808 a year for standard-rate taxpayers and £2,392 for those on the top rate.

  Without the vouchers there would be no point in some parents working at all. Yet Gordon Brown has made it clear that he will not do a U-turn on ending tax breaks on childcare vouchers. He argues that the Government is: “Making these changes because we feel that the tax relief is currently badly targeted. We’re not actually abolishing the childcare vouchers, but we would be phasing out the tax and national insurance relief employees receive for childcare vouchers.”

  In addition the vouchers can also be used for holiday schemes and after school clubs – something which many employers, particularly small businesses, have been very grateful.

  If you would like to vote on this issue click on the links below:

  I agree that the vouchers should be abolished

  I disagree that the vouchers should be abolished

• September - EYFS Training Guides, available exclusively through Morton Michel

• Morton Michel will be offering Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) training guides from October 2009. The guides normally cost £75.00 to purchase, but will be free to policyholders. The guides have been specifically designed to support childcarers who want to update their knowledge in their own time. There are ten guides in total and they cover the EYFS principles to help young children achieve the five outcomes - staying safe, being healthy, enjoying and achieving, making a positive contribution and achieving economic well-being (Every Child Matters).

• August - Morton Michel to Sponsor Childcare Expo

• Morton Michel has agreed to sponsor the Childcare Expo, taking place the Ricoh Coventry Arena on September 28-29th, 2010. The exhibition is aimed at the nursery and childcare industry.

• June - Morton Michel launches discounts to theme parks for policyholders

• In addition to benefits already available to Morton Michel policyholders, a range of discounted entrance tickets to various Theme Parks are also now available. The discounts apply at Legoland Windsor, Alton Towers Resort, Chessington World of Adventures & Zoo and Thorpe Park.

• May - Morton Michel purchases Play and Party Magazine

• Morton Michel has purchased Play and Party Magazine. Published quarterly the magazine is distributed to 8,550 owners, operators and senior managers who work within the family entertainment sector. Jerry Beere, Morton Michel's Partner commented: "We have embarked on a programme of diversification and have been looking at various non-insurance options. This one looks promising. It's in a sector we are familiar with and one that is not well served by publications at the moment." If you would like to see a copy of the magazine .... click here

• Childcare Club e-Newsletter - selection of news stories sent to Morton Michel policyholders on a monthly basis. The lead stories this month are:-

• Childminder numbers continue to fall and fewer day nurseries too.

  Compulsory registration not clear-cut issue for nannies, survey finds.

• Creative Minds Magazine - online digital magazine

• The Winter edition is out on Tuesday, December 1st.

• December 2008 - Morton Michel launches Childcare Dash Game

• Morton Michel is delighted to announce the launch of the Childcare Dash online game.

  - 19 levels

  - Fast and furious

  - Check out the inspector at the end of each level!

  Play now onwww.mortonmichel.com/childcare_dash/index.html