Letters to the Editor: Levy system is failing young apprentices

As we predicted, the problem lies with the way apprenticeships are funded under the recent reforms to the programme and the government needs to review the financial incentive it offers to employers to make them much more attractive in respect of this youngest age group.

Many employers say that the flat-rate incentive of £1,000 is not enough to opt for a school leaver over an older individual into a new apprentice role. For example, in the construction sector the cost of additional insurance and the fact that apprentices under 18 need to be supervised at all times far outweighs the value of the incentive. Some apprenticeship programmes are also delivered over a two- or even three-year period, but the £1,000 incentive is the same regardless of the programme's length and level.

Another significant barrier to recruitment is the insufficient funding to support apprentices without good GCSEs in English and maths who need to achieve the applied functional skills alternatives in these subjects.

We believe that all 16- to 18-year-old apprentices should be fully funded by the government. Failure to address this challenge will not only endanger the government's self-imposed three million starts target, but could lead to a generation of displacement and lost opportunities for young people across England.

Mark Dawe, chief executive, Association of Employment and Learning Providers

Cautious approach on free childcare welcome

As the government prepared to launch 30 hours free childcare for three- and four-year-olds in England, after campaigns for better funding failed, the sector said: "Delay! Think again and get it right!" The government didn't listen, 30 hours is here and it's chaos.

Funding levels for nurseries are so woeful that the majority offering expanded free childcare are having to rely on the goodwill of parents to pay for extras. In pushing ahead, the government has made England the poor relation of the UK in terms of expanded free childcare. This is a real shame.

Scotland and Wales, meanwhile, are preparing for expanded free childcare in a ?much more progressive way.

Scotland consulted the sector to come up with a blueprint that includes funding following the child, the possibility of an online childcare account for parents and more choice in where to claim funded hours. It has also scrapped business rates for nurseries.

Wales, meanwhile, is planning the UK's most ambitious funded childcare and early education offer, comprising 30 hours per week for 48 weeks of the year, compared with England's 39, backed by a reasonable hourly rate of £4.50 for settings taking part in trials now under way.

As I've said in my communications to ?the Chancellor, ahead of the Budget on ?22 November, the government should look to Scotland and Wales for ideas if it really wants 30 hours to work in the long term.

Purnima Tanuku, chief executive, National Day Nurseries Association