The Government launched a refresh of the Ten-Year Childcare Strategy, entitled Next Steps for Early Learning and Childcare: Building on the Ten-Year Strategy, to coincide with the five-year anniversary of the original vision. A key theme continues to centre on improving affordability and choice for parents. This will be achieved in part by extending the free entitlement.
Nurseries need to consider how to integrate these changes within existing marketing plans and pricing policies, as it should have a direct impact upon sustainability. Key areas of financial note include the following.
The Government is committed to:
- Offering free early learning and childcare places to the most disadvantaged two- year-olds in every local authority from September 2009. Initially, children in the 15 per cent most disadvantaged areas will be targeted, although the intent is to extend this stage by stage. Ten hours of free care per week will be offered in the best quality settings, with a view to facilitating seamless progression to the 15-hour offer in the term after the child turns three.
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