The Government has given an update on the progress made towards delivering the radical childcare reforms announced in the Chancellor’s spring statement.
In March the Chancellor announced that from September 2025, working parents will be able to access 30 hours a week of childcare, for 38 weeks a year, from the term after their child turns nine months to when they start school.
The Government will also help eligible parents to cover the costs for the first month of childcare when they enter work or increase their working hours.
Additionally some of the new measures will help free up staff to pursue professional development opportunities. The Government are investing up to £180 million in the early years education recovery programme, which offers a package of training, qualifications, expert guidance and targeted support for everyone working in the sector.
During a statement to the House of Commons Steve Brine MP, Chair of the All-Party Group for Childcare and Early Education, pressed the Government once again on business rates.
The MP explained : “The sector tells my all-party group that if it were not paying business rates, that would be a lot easier to retain staff by giving them a could give staff a pay rise”
“School-based settings do not pay them, but the rest of the private, voluntary and independent sector does. I realise that that is a matter for Treasury, but will she please take that away and look at it again?”
Claire Coutinho, Minister for Children, responded : “As part of the work we did to assess costs, we looked at other costs, including things such as business rates, to assess the level of funding we should give for the hourly rates, but of course I will always look at anything I can do to support nurseries.”
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