15 Hours...stretching the offer
James Hempsall
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
The recently published Department for Education business plan suggests options for allowing parents greater flexibility with their 15 hours. We can assume 'stretching' the 15-hour entitlement will be part of this exploration.
Flexibility and stretching delivery is a key way providers can respond to changes in families' needs. Provision all year round supports working parents who find it hard to make their annual leave entitlement and childcare arrangements fit the traditional term-time-only model. The experience of settings who have already offered such flexibility identifies benefits for the business and children too.
A 'stretched offer' is where settings provide the 15-hour entitlement over a reduced number of hours a week for more weeks of the year. This practice is already becoming widespread, as many providers open beyond the traditional 38 week terms and some allow parents to use their hours without distinguishing between term-time and holiday periods. Two such settings are Quaggy Children's Centre in Greenwich, London, run by the voluntary sector Quaggy Development Trust, and the family-run A Touch of Eden Nursery in Stanwick, Northamptonshire. Both settings allow parents to use their total of 570 hours across the year and both work within their local authorities' Code of Practice.
Joanna Gosling, deputy nursery manager at Quaggy Children's Centre, reports that very few parents use term-time-only childcare, as it 'can be very confusing for parents and harder to budget for, especially on a low income. If they're on tax credits, it would mean their payments and weekly childcare fees would change in the holidays. This is much easier for us to administer and manage.'
A Touch of Eden agrees and says it's an issue for all parents, whatever their income.
Both providers say the stretched offer guarantees their business income all year round, reducing the peaks and troughs that impact on cash flow and sustainability during term times and holidays. The benefits for children are greater consistency and continuity of care, with no gaps in learning and no need to re-adjust their routines and 'settle in' again.
Further information
James Hempsall is director of training and research provider Hempsall's (www.hempsallconsultancies.com).
