Free Legal Expenses Cover

Qualifying childcare provider members who have opted-in to our insurance scheme receive free legal expenses cover. The legal expenses policy includes cover against a number of legal situations.

The policy is underwritten, managed and administred by Markel International Insurance Company Limited.

Cover may vary depending upon your member service category. Please see the insurance information pages for more details.

Free Legal Advice Line

Access Free Legal Advice 24 hours a day*, 7 days a week*, on wide range of legal matters plus also receive Stress Counselling and Tax Advice.

Specialist Emergency Advice

You can access a Specialist Emergency Advice Line, should you be arrested or invited to attend an Interview under Caution the following day. This number provides access to expert lawyers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Contract Disputes

Cover for You to pursue or defend legal proceedings for a disputed debt due under a written contract between You and a parent or guardian of the child in Your care. This is subject to certain conditions, including that the disputed amount exceeds £100, that the contract commenced after the start of your policy of insurance with no break in insurance and that you have followed the pre-action procedure for issuing a letter before claim.

Cover for You to pursue or defend legal proceedings for a contract dispute with a local authority in respect of a contract that has placed children in Your care.

Cover for You to pursue or defend legal proceedings for a contract dispute over any equipment purchased for the purpose of Childcare activities.

Licence Appeals (Ofsted/non-Ofsted)

Cover for You to appeal against a decision taken by OFSTED, CSSIW, the Care Inspectorate, or the Health and Social Care Trust to suspend, revoke, alter or not renew Your Childcare Registration. You must be rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted (or the equivalent gradings by other UK regulatory bodies outside of England) in order to qualify.

Interview under Caution

Cover for representation at an interview under caution which may lead to your prosecution for a criminal offence.

Criminal Prosecutions

Cover for You to appeal against a decision taken by OFSTED, CSSIW, the Care Inspectorate, or the Health and Social Care Trust to suspend, revoke, alter or not renew Your Childcare Registration. You must be rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted (or the equivalent grading by other UK regulatory bodies outside of England) in order to qualify.

Childcare Proceedings

Cover for representation throughout the duration of Public Childcare Proceedings or Public Law Children Order Proceedings.

Representation Prior to a Barring Session

Cover to assist You to prepare correspondence and representation to the Disclosure and Barring Service once You have received notification from the Disclosure and Barring Service that they are considering placing Your name on the barring list.

Employment Disputes

Cover to defend You in a dispute between You and Your Employee, ex-Employee, prospective Employee or a worker that alleges to be an Employee over their contract of employment or over employment law in: CAS Early Conciliation, Employment Tribunals Response (ET3), Employment Tribunal Hearing, County or High Court Proceedings.

Employment Compensation Awards

Compensation provided that at the time of a Claim under this Section You have an accepted Claim in an Employment Tribunal Hearing.

Awards of Compensation

Compensation You are ordered to pay by an Employment Tribunal.

Settlement of a Dispute

The Compensation agreed by Markel International Insurance Company Limited in settlement of a dispute.

Tribunal Fees

An amount ordered by the Tribunal for You to pay or as agreed in a settlement that has been agreed.

Tax Protection

Representing You in a full enquiry into Your tax affairs and an appeal against a decision following a hearing or tribunal.

Jury Service Allowance

Jury Service Allowances provides cover up to £1,000 for the fee income that you lose out on each day you attend jury service at a Court, less any recovery from the Court.

Data Protection Cover

Data Protection Cover provides cover of up to £100,000 for defence under the Data Protection Act 2018 (Articles 168 and 169) and the General Data Protection Regulation (Section 82).

Crisis Communication cover

Crisis Communication Cover provides cover of up to £10,000 following an event which causes your business severe negative publicity and damages your business’ reputation and is likely to have a significant financial impact on your business.

Employment Restrictive Covenant Cover

Employment restrictive covenant cover provides cover of up to £100,000 to pursue your employee or ex-employee for their breach of a restrictive covenant which is causing or will cause you financial loss.

Personal Injury Cover

Personal Injury cover provides cover of up to £100,000 to pursue a claim for damages for physical bodily injury suffered carrying out your business activity (as stated in your policy schedule) which was caused by an actual or alleged act or omission of another party.

Full Policy Wording and What is not Covered?

You must read the full policy wording for details on any exclusions and details of what is not covered under the policy.

How do I receive the free Legal Expenses Cover?

To receive the free legal expenses cover, you must be a qualifying Childcare.co.uk gold member who has opted-in to our free public liability insurance. 

If you haven't yet applied you can apply online.

Any Questions?

We've produced a list of the most frequently asked questions about the public liability insurance on offer.

If you have any queries about the insurance cover please contact Childcare.co.uk in the first instance via our website. We respond to all enquiries the same day.

Do not contact the insurance underwriters directly unless you have a claim or wish to access the legal helpline.

Terms, Conditions, Claims and Complaints

Full terms, conditions and details of how to make a claim or complaint are detailed in the full policy wording.

* Taxation and all legal advice in Scotland and Northern Ireland is available Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm but excluding Public Holidays. The Legal Help Line is not empowered to give advice on the admissibility of any claim under the Policy. If you wish to make a claim or have a query about policy cover, you must contact our Claims Department on the Claims Line provided.