In today’s Spending Review 2015 it has been announced that free childcare will only be eligible for parents working over the 16hrs. This is denying parents who work less than 16 hrs the opportunity of claiming 30hrs free childcare. How can this be fair?
Parents who are finding it difficult to get full time work or who are saving on childcare costs by working part time hours are going to suffer from this decision made today.
When making this decision where children at the heart of this decision? As they are the ones who are going to suffer, especially as children’s early education is beneficial to their learning and development.
The decision was announced by the Chancellor George Osborne who stated “People working less than 16hrs a week will no longer be entitled to 30hrs free childcare”
However the original pledge by the Tories said all parents of 3 to 4 years old would be eligible, this is now not the case.
The 30hrs free childcare has been pushed back to 2017 as nurseries have raised their concerns over the lack of funding costs.
Not only families working less than 16hrs but families with an income of more than £100,000 will also not be able to claim the free childcare
I think this makes perfect sense; why do people working less than 16 hours need 30hours of free childcare? They will still be entitled to the 15hours free childcare, so will only need to pay for 1hour of childcare. Most full time parents work 37 hours, so will still need to pay the shortfall of 7 additional unfunded hours.
Also, many parents working under 16hours will likely be on a low income, and will therefore also be eligible 2year funding, whereas full time working households will possibly still need to wait until their child turns 3 before receiving any type of childcare support.
I am in total agreement with this I work over 16 hrs in a nursery and currently get no help towards my childcare whilst at work. Think working mums should revive more help even if partner is also working. Sometimes we have no choice to return to work but then childcare fees make it hard to work.
I support this proposal!! The childcare support is most needed for thoes working families that work over the 16hours!!! I am aware there are many who abuse the 16hour working rule and “choose” to work the minimum hours so that they are still entilited to recurve benifits!!! More help should be offered to thoes families who work full time!