15-30 free hours for parents: what's your opinions?

[Suzycb]

From September, this increases to 30 hours free for parents earnings up to £100,000.00 per each parent. (That's up to £200,000.00 in total). When this scheme initially extended to childminders, I thought to help actual parents especially any single parents out there who wanted to work but can't afford childcare because their child is under 3 years old. As a childminder who works alone means I don't have enough children to be able to even break even after what's the government is offering as in incentive towards the scheme. What's left for working almost 11 hours per day? I feel that we (childminders) haven't received advocates on our behalf to support the dilemma left to survive on. At the moment though not compulsive to accept the scheme within our settings, however, if a parent is offered this deal elsewhere, of course they'll move on. I just I cannot afford surviving on this and causing so many nurseries being shut down because nothing left to pay staff.

It isn't really. It's childcare.

It's completely optional. Compulsory education doesn't start until the September after they turn 5.

I agree with you in respect of how it is viewed, but how it is seen politically is early years education. Hence schools can provide it in the school day (9-3 5 days a week or similar).

When i was that age, I went mornings to a free nursery attached to my local infant school, it was certainly learning focussed. I had a SAHM and it wasn't childcare for her.

Can i ask what the age limits are for this funding?

Ignore me, its for 3 to 4yr olds

The first 15 hours is education but the other 15 have been called childcare.

Anyway - the rate that was being given has been bumped up massively

I sincerely hope the government don't use such studies to say-'well, it worked in the trial in X town so it must be a success everywhere' without saying that they had to give extra money!!

It is still not lots of money but the government has fixed a minimum that providers will get of £4 per child per hour for the first year and £4.08 (they are paying Local Authorities £4.30 per child per hour and they need to pay a minimum of 93% of that direct to providers in the first year and 95% in the second year). Some places will get more but that is the minimum.

Thanks HS!