A: No it isn't. The government published Your Child, Your Schools, Our future: Building a 21st-century Schools System in June, which proposes a key role for local authorities and children's trusts to establish local challenges and priorities. Part of this role is to ensure that their area has sufficient effective childcare by supporting partnerships between schools and providers.
The proposed Parental Guarantee also spells out that access to childcare continues, which will ensure that demand is maintained. Also, schools acting in networks and partnerships are likely to become more widespread. Your experience here will enable you to make more of the opportunities than providers used to working at the school-level only.
Q: The council picks up the bill for taxis if disabled children go straight home after school but makes parents pay if young people stay on for out-of-school activities. Isn't this discriminatory?
A: This is a complex matter. However, in November a 15-year-old boy with Asperger syndrome won a High Court ruling to make his local council reconsider its refusal to pay for his taxi when he stayed on for an activity.
The High Court judge backed the family's claim that the request wasn't for an additional service, but a request for a reasonable adjustment to the service already provided. See if this argument wins the day with your local authority.
- Your questions answered by 4Children and ContinYou's consultancy services. If you have a question, please email colin.hamilton@haymarket.com.
