15/03/2023
I’m all for todays announcements but please Do not be fooled!
Todays announcement is a vote grabber, which is why it is not being rolled out for 18 months plus.
To people planning to have families in the future the announcements sound amazing but..
-these hours are FUNDED, not FREE!
-childcare providers rarely get paid a reasonable amount for funded hours.
-if childcare providers are not paid a reasonable fee for funded hours by the local authority they will have to charge a top-up fee to parents.
-if top-up fees are disallowed by the government, childcare providers will not be able to afford to offer funded care.
-if childcare providers are forced to offer funded spaces they will all close down and there will be no childcare.
No wonder nurseries and childminders are closing all over the country.
There also incentivising new childminders to join but not supporting those already in the sector
*Not mine but permission to share*