Childcare funding causing nurseries frustration
Many nurseries will not be able to offer the funded childcare places if government go ahead with the funding amounts. It has been asked that The Department for Education rethink the decision of not publishing information regarding the new funding levels for the free funded childcare places.
According to the Government they did not have the information in their possession to publish. The research carried out was by accountant Deloitte. However, the Information Commissioner has given the Department For Education 365days to respond to this rethink of publishing the information publicly.
Infomation from this research carried out has fed into Government’s decision on the hourly rates for nursery providers offering the 30hrs free childcare places.
The Government’s increase in the free childcare entitlement comes into effect next September 2017; some areas are currently piloting the scheme.
The hourly rates given to the nurseries for the free entitlement was revealed last year, and many childcare providers were and are still less than happy with the amounts, leaving some with the uncertainty as to whether they can offer the free childcare places.
The argument today is that the Deloitte research should be made public for all to see as many childcare providers are arguing that the average hourly rates will make nurseries unstainable.
The Department of Education has said they will consider the next steps and make a decision soon.