Experts from children’s charity Coram Family and Childcare (CFC) warn the system needs to be rebalanced.
From today (1st September) working parents could qualify for 30 hours of free childcare per week if they and their partner earn the equivalent of 16 hours of work at the national minimum wage.
The benefit is offered to children aged between nine months and four years old and is only available during school term time.
When launching the scheme, Prime Miniter Keir Starmer, said: ‘Launching 30 hours of free childcare is a promise made, and a promise delivered. It’s a landmark moment for working families across the country, and a clear sign that our plan for change is not just words – it’s action.’
However, new research from CFC shows children who come from families who do not earn enough to be eligible for the benefit, will suffer a disadvantage by the time they start school. Experts found parents would have to pay £205 a week on average for the same amount of early education for a child under two.
What’s more, the research displays families of two-year-olds that receive 15 free hours of childcare, will pay around £100 a week to bring their total hours to 30.
Though these costs vary in certain parts of the country. For example, families who live in London will pay £274 per week for a child under two to access the same amount of early education as their peers.
Commenting on the news, Lydia Hodges, head of CFC, said: ‘While the expansion of funded childcare hours is very welcome support for many working families, the focus on parental income risks excluding disadvantaged children who stand to benefit the most from early education, and further widening the gap the disadvantage gap.
‘Steps must be taken to remove the emerging imbalance and ensure all children have access to the same opportunity to boost their outcomes through early education, no matter their parents’ circumstances.’
Echoing a similar tone, Cllr Amanda Hopgood, chair of the Local Government Association’s children, young people and families committee, added: ‘Councils work hard to ensure all children get access to high quality early education and childcare which improves their outcomes, enabling parents and carers to stay in work.’
‘We have long raised concerns about the potential disparity in support given the entitlements focus on children of working parents and would like to see the government review the entitlements offer to tackle this,’ Cllr Hopgood continued.
‘Furthermore, we are particularly concerned about disadvantaged two-year-olds and take up rates, the challenges in supporting and encouraging providers and on communications from central government which focuses on the value of childcare for parents and less so on the importance of early education for children’s outcomes.’
Photo by Segun Osunyomi via UnSplash
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