This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-35587685
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Warning over plan to extend nursery free hours | Warning over plan to extend nursery free hours |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Fewer than half of nurseries will be able to offer extended free childcare planned by the government, the National Day Nurseries Association has warned. | Fewer than half of nurseries will be able to offer extended free childcare planned by the government, the National Day Nurseries Association has warned. |
| The NDNA said underfunding of the scheme meant many nurseries in England would struggle to provide the extended free care for pre-schoolers. | The NDNA said underfunding of the scheme meant many nurseries in England would struggle to provide the extended free care for pre-schoolers. |
| Early years education for three- and four-year-olds is to be doubled from 15 to 30 hours for each week of term time. | Early years education for three- and four-year-olds is to be doubled from 15 to 30 hours for each week of term time. |
| The government says the extra free hours will help support families. | The government says the extra free hours will help support families. |
| Pilots of the scheme are due to begin in the autumn and a full rollout will follow in 2017, under new legislation covered by the Childcare Bill. | Pilots of the scheme are due to begin in the autumn and a full rollout will follow in 2017, under new legislation covered by the Childcare Bill. |
| Annual losses | Annual losses |
| But in its annual survey, the NDNA found only 45% of the 485 nurseries questioned said they were likely to extend the number of free hours on offer. | But in its annual survey, the NDNA found only 45% of the 485 nurseries questioned said they were likely to extend the number of free hours on offer. |
| The NDNA - which represents more than 5,000 nurseries out of a total of about 18,000 in England - said nurseries were currently managing to offer 15 hours of free childcare a week by plugging the shortfall in government funding. | The NDNA - which represents more than 5,000 nurseries out of a total of about 18,000 in England - said nurseries were currently managing to offer 15 hours of free childcare a week by plugging the shortfall in government funding. |
| In practice, it said, this meant parents paid a higher rate for the hours their child spent in nursery above 15 hours. | In practice, it said, this meant parents paid a higher rate for the hours their child spent in nursery above 15 hours. |
| The average nursery had to absorb a loss of about £34,000 a year due to the funding gap, with 89% of nurseries making a loss on free places, it claimed. | The average nursery had to absorb a loss of about £34,000 a year due to the funding gap, with 89% of nurseries making a loss on free places, it claimed. |
| The majority of respondents (92%) to the poll were private nurseries, with 7% from the voluntary sector and the rest maintained nurseries. | The majority of respondents (92%) to the poll were private nurseries, with 7% from the voluntary sector and the rest maintained nurseries. |
| NDNA chief executive Purnima Tanuku said the nursery sector was "fully behind" the principle of more support for parents. | NDNA chief executive Purnima Tanuku said the nursery sector was "fully behind" the principle of more support for parents. |
| "But serious funding shortfalls stand in the way of nurseries getting on board, despite their desire to help families with free childcare," she said. | "But serious funding shortfalls stand in the way of nurseries getting on board, despite their desire to help families with free childcare," she said. |
| "Private, voluntary and independent nurseries deliver most of the government's free places, currently 15 hours per week for all three- and four-year-olds and some two-year-olds. | "Private, voluntary and independent nurseries deliver most of the government's free places, currently 15 hours per week for all three- and four-year-olds and some two-year-olds. |
| "But the nursery sector is reluctant to commit to offering more free hours when they already make a significant annual loss - an average of £34,000 per nursery - on the funded places they currently provide." | "But the nursery sector is reluctant to commit to offering more free hours when they already make a significant annual loss - an average of £34,000 per nursery - on the funded places they currently provide." |
| But education and childcare minister Sam Gyimah said: "We are backing families and funding the sector, with £1bn extra funding every year by 2020, including £300m annually to increase the national average funding rate, to incentivise and attract providers to deliver the full 30-hour free offer to parents. | But education and childcare minister Sam Gyimah said: "We are backing families and funding the sector, with £1bn extra funding every year by 2020, including £300m annually to increase the national average funding rate, to incentivise and attract providers to deliver the full 30-hour free offer to parents. |
| "This extra funding was based on an extensive consultation with the sector and our review into the cost of delivering childcare, the most comprehensive analysis of this market ever. | "This extra funding was based on an extensive consultation with the sector and our review into the cost of delivering childcare, the most comprehensive analysis of this market ever. |
| "The NDNA's survey shows many providers are likely to offer free childcare and thousands of providers and councils also expressed an interest in taking part in our early implementers programme, well in advance of the national rollout." | "The NDNA's survey shows many providers are likely to offer free childcare and thousands of providers and councils also expressed an interest in taking part in our early implementers programme, well in advance of the national rollout." |
| Elsewhere in the UK | Elsewhere in the UK |
| In Wales, all three- and four-year-olds are entitled to a minimum of 10 hours of free foundation phase early education. | In Wales, all three- and four-year-olds are entitled to a minimum of 10 hours of free foundation phase early education. |
| In Scotland, three- and four-year-olds are eligible for 600 hours of free childcare a year (the equivalent of around 16 hours a week during term time). | In Scotland, three- and four-year-olds are eligible for 600 hours of free childcare a year (the equivalent of around 16 hours a week during term time). |
| In Northern Ireland, under the pre-school education programme, there is an allocation of funded places for children in the year before they start school. | In Northern Ireland, under the pre-school education programme, there is an allocation of funded places for children in the year before they start school. |
| Do you work in a nursery offering free childcare? Has your work been affected by this story? Are you a parent and hoping to benefit from the government's planned extension of free childcare? Share your experiences with us. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. | |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | |
| Or use the form below |