Do you agree that Free childcare will do more harm than good for childcare settings?

 The increase to the free 30 hours free childcare for parents is inevitable even with all of the debate and concerns over the amount of funding the government provides to cover the free funding. Although concerns have been raised they have still yet to be addressed leading to more and more settings fearing closure and only offering a limited number of spaces.

What harm will the free childcare cause?

Limiting the number of spaces available may be necessary to protect a setting’s finances and ensure they are able to stay open, but by doing this many children and families will miss out on this childcare offer. This will in turn harm life chances as children are not receiving the education they need to achieve a good level of development, parents will also remain out of pocket paying for childcare expenses that they should be able to receive for free.

 It has previously been discussed how the government intends to support settings initially by offering additional funding however this is will not last forever and once this initial funding comes to an end the basic rate will remain. It has been discussed how government also intend to leave the basic rate as it is until 2020, meaning as inflation changes and minimum wage makes its yearly increase settings will continue to financially suffer each year as the funding doesn’t meet the real expenses involved in the care of a child for thirty hours a week.

Is it fair that a policy so huge as the 30 hours free childcare should be rushed and implemented without real consideration for the impact this is going to have on settings, children and families?