School based childcare places

[Alexahelp]

The government announced the new childcare places this week, using spare school space to create more school based ergo school hours childcare facilities in places that are short of affordable options and limiting parents ability to go back to work. My understanding is this provides cheaper care in places that don’t have the space, exactly the same guidelines and funding as existing care, just a quick cost efficient way of getting kids extra places.

I’ve seen shedloads of childminders and nursery owners up in arms the last few days, apparently it’s damning of the rest of the childcare sector, it’ll mean funding eventually gets removed from private care and load all kids into the school system. Does anyone work in childcare and can explain to me why they think this?! I feel like I’m missing something.

I think the part you're missing is where the government hasn't actually created the facilities nor has anyone been recruited to run them. Recruitment will be difficult if not impossible.

The existing childcare facilities (which already have suitable buildings, and staff) are shutting because the government subsidy doesn't cover the actual cost of care and they're now forbidden to charge realistic top up fees.

I thought the point of the funding allocated was to pay for the set up of the nurseries. Get your point on recruitment.

I also know about the ridiculous consumable issue, but again - that’s a different issue, I don’t understand why the language and anger isn’t about THAT rather than the creation of new facilities!

It’s all part of labours bigger plan. They want all parents back to work and all babies in school from nine months.

the 3/4 year old funding rate is too low, always has been. Previously this could be balanced by charging more for nursery places for younger children and by allowing settings to make reasonable charges for consumables for funded children. Funding is now available from 9 months (although the under 3 rates are more realistic) and we have to itemise consumables (more admin time) which are only voluntary, providers are struggling to make ends meet. The governments response to offers this is to increase the 2 year old ratio. More work for less money. Thanks.

private and independent providers are being priced out and forced out.

The governments' (I'm including previous ones) method is to research costs and then fund based on the average in the expectation that will become the norm. Now the thing is that some types/locations for childcare cost more and there is a reason for that, whether it's a high cost area for staff to live in, shortage of staff meaning wages need to be a bit higher to attract them or...gasp...better quality more inclusive facilities.

They also told parents for years the places were "free" but actually they're subsidised.

Plus there's this confusion over childcare vs education. Those "free" hours are termtime only which most jobs are not.

Plus there's a shortage of thousands and thousands of teachers in the school age part of the system so where the nursery workers are coming from, no-one knows.

Childminder of nearly 12 years here. We are annoyed by this as the DOE and government are stating that these are higher quality of care and better education than us, which is far from the truth they will still have to follow the EYFS and training requirements and qualifications needed are the same so they are no higher educated than private setting staff.
They will still have to follow ofsted and be inspected, the same as us.
The reason is MONEY, private settings get paid for funded spaces it goes to the business, covering costs, staff ect ect, funding money to a school setting is a government business so in away it stays within the government's money pots.

They want all the nannies to be out of work yhats the reason