Lancashire nurseries fear the increase in the free childcare will cause many problems
According to nurseries in the Lancashire area, there is still very little information being shared about the free childcare arrangement. From next September children from working families will be entitled to 30hrs free childcare each week. The Governments aim of increasing the free childcare hours for working families is to help support parents return to work. However many childcare providers in the Lancashire are private organisations and owners are still unsure of the full implications it will have on the business.
Already many childcare providers are being underfunded and are having to subsidise the funding shortfall themselves. The hourly rate given to childcare providers by the government runs very short of an employee’s hourly rate. Therefore, the increase to the 30hours will cause further financial dificulties.
With this scheme being introduced next September many nurseries are considering how they are going to be able to offer the increased hours, with ideas of changing for the additional services such as meals and other extra activities.
As funding rates are still yet to be confirmed nurseries in Lancashire are still undecided as to whether it is going to be viable to offer the increased hours.