Children's Minister Sarah Teather said, ‘I’m pleased to announce today that the Government will be going ahead with extending free childcare to 15 hours a week for three and four year olds. I am also asking Children’s Centres to make sure they are doing all they can to encourage disadvantaged families to take up this free childcare offer.
‘In a fair society, good quality early years provision should be available to every child, regardless of their family's income or background. I want to make it easier for families to access the support they need, that's why we will continue to fund early learning and childcare for over 20,000 of the most disadvantaged two year olds. We will be looking at how this could be extended, as resources allow, to help support families who will benefit from it the most.
‘Parents should be able to choose when and how they use their free childcare to help fit in with their daily lives. We will be working closely with local authorities and nursery providers to help them promote greater choice for families.’
Education secretary Michael Gove confirmed the move in a letter to his predecessor and shadow education secretary Ed Balls. In the letter, Mr Gove says that the Government will continue to fund free, part-time nursery places for up to 20,000 two-year-olds and will investigate how the two-year-old pilots could be rolled out to more children.
The letter also gives more details of how the Pupil Premium, a Liberal Democrat policy, will work in practice. It says that schools will get more money for teaching children from disadvantaged families and that the money will be used to pay for smaller class sizes, extra one-to-one tuition, and better qualified teachers.
Mr Gove wrote, 'First, I can confirm that I am able to protect frontline spending on schools, children's centres and 16-19 provision this year... We are also able to proceed with the increase in the early years entitlement for three- and four-year-olds to 15 hours, and we'll be making sure that this reaches vulnerable groups who will benefit most. We will also fund the provision of more than 20,000 places for the most disadvantaged two-year-olds. We will be looking at how, as resources allow, this could be extended further.'
However, in a move which will anger supporters of the Liberal Democrat Party, which prior to the General Election pledged to extend access to free school meals, Mr Gove said that the Government is to abandon both the extension to free school meals for some primary school children and further free school meal pilots. He blamed his predecessor for downplaying the cost of the extension to the free school meals scheme.
Mr Gove wrote, 'I am sympathetic to the arguments for extending eligibility, though surprised that a decision to do so was taken before any evidence on the impact on attainment could be collected from pilots. I am even more surprised that the sum of £85m allocated by the previous Government to extend free school meals this year... falls far short of the true cost of £125m this year. As it stands, I am not prepared to risk cuts to frontline budgets to support unfunded promises made under the previous administration.'
Early years and childcare sector response
'The news that the 15 hour entitlement is going ahead will be welcomed by families and nurseries who understand it is a vital part of ensuring that all children, regardless of background, can benefit from high-quality care and early learning.
However, while it is fantastic that the entitlement is free to the parent, it is not free to a large proportion of nurseries and is a direct threat to their continued survival. More than 60 per cent of providers report that funding for free sessions does not cover their costs, and the new Government must look at how adequate funds can reach the frontline.’
'By ensuring that the funding system works, the government will be able to draw on the expertise and capacity of the private and voluntary sectors and improve outcomes for children. Investing in children is vital as research shows that it can return huge dividends to the taxpayer later, and open up a wealth of opportunities for the child. The new government has a real opportunity to grasp and resolve this issue, to ensure that all nurseries can continue to provide choice for children and families.’
Purnima Taunuku, chief executive, National Day Nurseries Association
‘We welcome this announcement as it demonstrates that the new Government is continuing to recognise the importance of early years education and its potential to transform life chances for children and their families.
‘While this is a laudable measure, we would urge the Government to support it with adequate funding for providers. If the extension is unrealistically costed, it runs the risk of exacerbating sustainability concerns for providers already struggling to balance operating costs against providing quality childcare at rates that parents can afford.
‘The Pre-school Learning Alliance will continue to work with the government to ensure that providers’ concerns are heeded and quality universal childcare receives the investment it needs.’
Neil Leitch, Acting Chief Executive at the Pre-school Learning Alliance
‘It is encouraging the Government has signalled a commitment to retaining the planned increase in the free entitlement. Ministers have already said that they want this childcare to be provided by a diverse range of childcare providers and we see this as a positive step for registered childminders.
‘We would also urge Ministers to continue their support for a childminding network in every local community; a key commitment of the previous Government. This is the only way to secure a diverse childcare market, where parents have genuine choice. Currently only registered childminders who are accredited through a childminding network are able to deliver the free offer.
‘We are also supportive of the Government’s commitment to continue a pilot of the free entitlement for 20,000 two-year-olds from the most disadvantaged communities. Childminders are ideally placed to care for very young children - as they provide a home environment and smaller groups of children.’
Andrew Fletcher, joint chief executive of the National Childminding Association (NCMA)
‘Not only does the free entitlement play a vital role in improving child outcomes, it is also a key tool in helping many unemployed parents get back to work, and is exactly the kind of family support that parents really value.
‘We believe that it has been the most significant and most successful childcare policy in recent years, and we are pleased to see the new government recognise this with their commitment today.
‘Daycare Trust has campaigned hard to protect the free entitlement, and looks forward to working with the government to guarantee all children the start in life they deserve.’
Alison Garnham, chief executive of Daycare Trust
