8 local authorities to share £13 million to pilot the 30 hours free childcare
From September 8 local authorities will roll out the extended 30 hours free childcare allowance. A whopping 13 million will be shared amongst these 8 authorities to help the implementation of this scheme. £4 million will also be shared amongst 25 areas which are spread across six cluster regional areas; these will work together as ‘ Early Innovators on specific issues. This will provide support for children with special educational needs and disabilities; it will allow the flexibility of available space giving support for working parents.
Already today children aged three and four are entitled to 15 hours free childcare, this scheme was then extended to disadvantaged two years olds. Since then the government then pledged for the free entitled to be extended to 30hrs, of which this has been seen as a great support for working parents but not much thought for the childcare providers who will be offering the scheme. The extended 30 hours free childcare is set to be rolled out across all counties by September 2017.
Pilot areas have been announced, Portsmouth being one of them, they with be rolling out the 30 hours free childcare earlier than expected. Hampshire has been chosen as an early innovator; however, they are not sure what this will actually mean for parents with SEN children. To read more about the other areas chosen to pilot this scheme click here
Childcare minister Sam Gyimah added, ‘I know how important childcare is from my own personal experience and I couldn’t be more determined to make sure we give children the best start in life, support parents to work and as a result, allow our country to prosper.’
We would really like to hear your views on the decision to pilot this scheme?