The childcare sector has been under pressure for sometime, with rising cost pressures and a decline in the number of childminders.
In this year's Spring Budget, the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt MP, has unveiled a range of measures to address these issues and support families with the cost of living by reducing the cost of childcare and providing greater funding to childminders and nurseries.
For eligible households, those where all adults work at least 16 hours a week, the Government will be introducing 30 hours of free childcare for every single child from the age of nine months. This will help to cut costs for families by nearly 60%.
The 30 hours offer will start from the moment maternity or paternity leave ends, and is worth on average £6,500 every year for a family with a two-year-old child using 35 hours of childcare every week.
The funding paid to nurseries providing free childcare under the hours offer, is set to be £204m from this September rising to £288 million next year. This is an average of a 30% increase in the two-year-old rate this year, support measures as requested by the sector.
Providers will also be given greater flexibility in how they operate in line with other parts of the UK. Alongside additional funding, the minimum number of staff-to-child ratios will change from 1:4 to 1:5 for two-year-olds in England, as already happens in Scotland. These new ratios will be optional, so that childminders and parents have greater choice and freedom on whether or not to adopt such.
Michael Gove MP visited Bisley Base with Cllr Graham Alleway, to meet the team and manager Lynda Faithfull, to discuss what these changes announced by the Chancellor will mean for parents and providers in Surrey Heath.
Commenting, Michael said:
"Many thanks to the team at Bisley Base Nursery for having me to visit this morning. It was great to meet Lynda, who does a brilliant job running the nursery which provides vital childcare for around 120 families."
Lynda Faithfull, said:
"As a wrap around care for local families we would like to thank Mr Gove for visiting us today to hear our concerns re the the sale of the old school house and the future of childcare in our community."
