Nurseries cannot charge extra to access free hours: updated guidance

This

I worked in early years twenty years ago and it was part of the contract then, just often ignored and there were no consequences for breaking the rules.

It has always been the policy that nurseries should only charge for extras and they had to be voluntary. The guidance is only making that clearer because some nurseries were making parents pay the extra
The policy hasn't changed

My sons nursery went bust a month ago after 20 years of having amazing reviews and being very popular. They just couldn't afford to own the building, all the bits that come with and offer free hours. My three year old has now been uprooted just before he starts school in September and arguably needs more consistency. I would have been much happier to pay a top-up fee...

What?! Where? How is this possible.

There are going to childcare deserts across the country for a lot of working parents. I can see a lot of settings refusing to accept the funding (which they are entitled to do) which just ends up with parents having to pay more than they do now.

Locally they funding rate is £4.25 per hour for 3+. How they expect anyone to provide high quality care and meals for that amount is ridiculous, especially for childminders who have a low ratio.

Parents who moan about additional charges should be careful what they wish for, as they could find they end up paying more, or find that they are without any childcare as the setting closes.

I have no skin in the game, as my children are at school but the system needs to be fair for all, and government should not be telling private providers how much they can charge.

Isn't the funding £2 an hour or something ridiculous?

Our local nursery (Home Counties) is charging £120 a day or £105 after 15 hours (spread out across the year) and will 100% stop offering funded hours if pushed because there aren't enough nurseries anyway and spaces are in demand.

It's all very well forcing nurseries to accept funded hours but at the end of the day it'll end in closures and nurseries (most of which are private businesses trying to turn a profit, remember!) not offering funded hours which just leaves parents even more screwed. There needs to be a conscious effort to create and run nurseries that accept the hours, but realistically who is going to do this? No one is going to be lining up to run businesses for no profit - and the government seem to be making no plans to do this either.

Funding does not cover the costs of running a childcare business, this along with the increase in NI and NMW in April will just lead to more and more closures, or some childcare providers will just stop offering the funding ( it's an opt in not out arrangement) and only offer private spaces . funded childcare will become like gold dust just like NHS dentists. I also feel if 90-100% off your income is coming from the la you are no longer self employed and should receive sick, holiday pay and a pension from la

yes I can see childminders closing by the hordes, too.

Sadly alot of nurseries will close now

The funding is enough, those charging top ups are just greedy. There are no extra charges at my DCs nursery. The nursery has amazing facilities, a stable and knowledgeable staff team and have 2 nutritious home cooked meals every day.