The Government initiative Care to Learn?, which begins next month, is for young parents - either mothers or fathers - who attend sixth form school or further education colleges or are in work-based learning. The Department for Education and Skills will pay up to 5,000 per child each year towards the costs of all types of registered childcare to enable their parents to learn, study or train for employment and let them retain a childcare place during the holidays.
However, the DfES said it will not pay for unregistered childcare, or for childcare for those continuing learning or training that they started before this September. It will also not pay childcare costs for anyone under the age of 16 until September 2004.
The Government is committed to doubling the numbers of teenage parents participating in work or education from 30 per cent to 60 per cent by 2010.
Sure Start minister Catherine Ashton said, 'Our new Care to Learn? scheme will provide young parents with free childcare so they can carry on in education or work-based learning and go on to get higher-paid jobs to support their families. We want to break cycles of poverty and make sure that all children have equal opportunity to succeed at school and in later life.'
Rosie Pressland, chair of East Riding Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership in Yorkshire, who is involved in the initiative, said, 'Care to Learn? is not means-tested and its aim is to see young parents stay in school or college and study. It is based on a pilot scheme pioneered by the National Childminding Association.'
At Tulse Hill nursery in south London, the Government also launched a 'buddying' scheme, which will see registered childminders help other carers such as grandparents become registered and set up in business themselves.
It is being piloted in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds, and will be extended across England from next April.
Andrew Smith, work and pensions secretary, said, 'We are determined to help parents access affordable and good quality childcare, to help break down the barriers to work and make sure that work pays for everyone. Sure Start's new childminder buddying scheme will help boost the supply of childminders.
'But it also offers the opportunity for parents to get into work by opening their own business as a registered childminder. This will help us with our goal to help more parents, in particular lone parents, into work and put an end to cycles of poverty.'
* For details of Care to Learn?, phone 0161 234 7269 or see www.dfes/gov.uk/caretolearn.
