Nurseries fear threat from extension of free childcare

The National Day Nurseries Association has written to children's minister Beverley Hughes, after gathering responses to the latest childcare strategy from 300 delegates at regional events.

NDNA told Hughes that providers are worried about government funding for the free entitlement not covering their costs. It has called for money to be given to local authorities to support nurseries under threat of closure. It also wants more flexibility for authorities to use existing money to cover shortfalls in government funding.

Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of the NDNA, said: "We believe it is vital to explore how current issues with the free entitlement can be addressed faster, as many nurseries are facing increased sustainability issues during the current economic climate."    

Next Steps for Early Learning and Childcare was published in January, detailing plans to extend the free entitlement for three- and four-year-olds to the most deprived two year-olds, and eventually to all two-year-olds. It also promised to allow parents to stretch their free hours across the year instead of the 38 weeks currently permitted, and mooted the potential for parents to ‘bank' unused hours for two-year-olds and use them when the child is three or four.

Members raised further concerns over how a more flexible system will work in practice, and how they can support the cost of a government-envisaged graduate workforce and retain experienced staff lacking formal qualifications. They were keen to learn more about pilots to improve the delivery of the Working Tax Credit and were worried about how the planned national price comparison website may place too much emphasis on fees and not quality.