Childcare providers only option is to increase fees to survive
With the 30hrs free childcare scheme set to roll out across the country in September, many childcare providers are concerned about being sustainable.Therefore many childcare providers are considering increasing fees as well as introducing extra charges to help claw back the shortfall in funding being given by Government.
According to a recent poll carried out by Pre-School Learning Alliance providers will struggle to offer the Governments 30hr free childcare scheme as Funding will not cover the costs.
The 30hrs free childcare scheme could force nurseries to close, causing a shortfall in childcare places available. It is believed almost a Fifth of childcare providers will not be offering the scheme, half of these providers have expressed this is due to funding.
To remain sustainable providers are having to increase fees for children of all ages and introduce extra charges for additional hours. To reduce this from happening further support from Government is needed to help providers offer this scheme,
Without childcare providers, there will not be the childcare places. Therefore families lose out. The 30hrs free childcare scheme is being portrayed as free when this is not true, and now it is parents and providers who are having to the pay the price for the Governments idea.
How is the Governments 30hrs free childcare scheme going to affect you?