Speaking at the Pre-School Learning Alliance’s annual conference in London today, shadow children’s minister Sharon Hodgson, said, ‘The free entitlement for three- and four-year-olds should remain free to everyone, and a similar offer for two-year-olds should be the ultimate ambition.'
More than 700 delegates attended the Alliance’s conference to celebrate the organisation’s 50th anniversary.
The shadow minister, a former childminder, admitted that while there are affordability issues for providers and local and national government, it was important that free provision continues to be part of the offer to help parents get back to work.
While acknowledging the sustainability issues for some private and voluntary providers, she said top-up fees were not the way forward.
‘It’s a complicated issue, but the government and the sector need to ensure that free places are sustainable for providers, and do not simply lead to an increase in fees charged for regular, paid for hours.’
Ms Hodgson also warned that increasing costs to parents could force them to give up work and lead to fewer children attending pre-school settings.
She said, ‘Increasing childcare costs and stagnating incomes could force many into giving up work to look after their children full-time.’
