The policy paper, which was launched by Deputy Prime Minister and the Liberal Democrat leader at the party's Autumn Conference rally in Glasgow on Saturday (14 September), outlines plans to extend the free entitlement to ten hours for children between the ages of one and two, 15 hours for all two- to three-year- olds, 20 hours for three- to four-year-olds and 25 hours for four- to five-year-olds.
Families whose household income is under £100,000 a year would be eligible.
The Liberal Democrats say that increasing the free entitlement and funding it at the ‘real cost’ of delivery, will act as a brake on the cost of additional hours and is the only way to reduce the average hourly cost of childcare to parents without risking quality.
The paper also says that the provision of free hours for one- to two-year-olds would help bridge the current gap between the end of parental leave and the two-year old offer, and allow a mother to either retrain on a part-time basis or ease herself back into work.
The Liberal Democrats would monitor take-up of the free entitlement and average care costs and review the system after five years.
The policy paper -‘A balanced working life, policies for low and middle income households’, also outlines plans to further extend the range of times in which the free entitlement can be accessed, as it says that there is still an assumption that parents work 9-5.
Currently, only 30 per cent of children’s centres in the most deprived areas are obliged to open for ten hours per day and 48 weeks per year.
According to the Liberal Democrats, a recent survey found that 46 per cent of local authorities feel they have sufficient childcare to meet the requirements of parents working full-time, and 12 per cent when considering parents who work atypical hours.
In light of this, they recommend gradually moving to a system where all children’s centres and nurseries with more than 25 places that receive the nursery education grant, where viable, open for 48 weeks per year between 7am and 7pm.
Settings that are not flexible with hours would not be able to gain an Ofsted grade of outstanding.
Other proposals being considered by the Liberal Democrats, include increasing the number of ‘children and family centres’, as local authority finances allow.
The policy paper recommends children’s centres act as ‘centres of excellence’ for the whole early years sector and as a ‘multi-disciplinary hub’ where holistic provision can be made for young children’s physical, mental and developmental needs.
As part of this, the party shows its support for childminder hubs, an initiative currently being piloted by 4Children with Government funding.
It recommends that good and outstanding ‘children and family centres’ and other daycare settings become hubs, offering a ‘one-stop shop’ for parents to access additional hours needed for wrap around care through a network of linked quality controlled childminders.
Childminders connected to each hub would have to meet certain requirements, including offering the 15 hours free entitlement and complying with the EYFS.
The policy paper goes on to suggest making funding available for local authorities to test this model to develop one hub.
Commenting on the recommendations, Anne Longfield, chief executive of 4Children, said, ‘We are delighted that the Liberal Democrats have been quick to pick up on the potential benefits that the hubs offer and have championed them within their policy paper.
‘We hope to see other political parties follow suit and recognise the important role they have to play in modernising childcare and family support within their own future policy proposals.’
The policy paper, which also looks at qualifications in the sector, recommends that the Early Years Teacher qualification have QTS terms and conditions and contain work on the development of children from birth to age seven.
It follows complaints by the sector about the Government’s decision not to award Early Years Teachers Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and that the standards for the qualification are inadequate and inappropriate for the EYFS age range.
The organisation TACTYC has argued that without QTS, lower pay and different terms and conditions of service, Early Years Teachers will not be seen as important as or equivalent to those with QTS.
TheLiberal Democrats go on to say they would like to see every children’s centre and nursery employ at least one person with at least a degree in early education or child development by 2020.
Settings, which do not adhere to the requirement, would not be able to gain a good or outstanding Ofsted grade.
