Some councils still don’t have childcare funding in place, admits education secretary
11 months ago

Some councils still don’t have childcare funding in place, admits education secretary

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Some local authorities have yet to confirm funding for childcare providers to deliver on the government’s promised expansion, education secretary Gillian Keegan has said. Ms Keegan admitted she cannot guarantee the pledge to provide more free hours – but said she is leaning on councils in England “very hard” to publish funding rates. Keegan says she is putting pressure on councils to meet the April deadline When challenged on whether she can guarantee that parents will be able to access funding, Ms Keegan said: “I’m very confident in this programme.” She added: “I’m very confident that your 15 hours for two-year-olds will be available in April. The only reason I say I can’t guarantee is strictly it’s tens and tens of thousands of businesses all across the country who are actually delivering it.” The new policy enables eligible working parents of two-year-olds to claim 15 hours of free childcare for 38 weeks of the year from April.

Childcare Parents Funding Free Her Husband Westminster Email View Free Childcare Keegan Ms Keegan  view  secretary  hours  admits  hes  dont  evidence  parents  education  place  childcare  westminster  funding  councils  free  keegan

History of this topic

Hundreds of children’s care places are costing councils more than £10,000 a week per child
1 week, 2 days ago

Hundreds of children’s care places are costing councils more than £10,000 a week per child

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Hundreds of children’s care home placements are costing councils over …

Hunt’s free childcare pledge ‘doomed to fail’ as thousands of nurseries close
1 week, 3 days ago

Hunt’s free childcare pledge ‘doomed to fail’ as thousands of nurseries close

The Independent  

Sign up for the Independent Women email for the latest news, opinion and features Get the Independent Women email for free Get the Independent Women email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thousands of nurseries have shut their doors amid a staffing crisis, leaving …

Top Kemi Badenoch ally says the Tories were WRONG to expand free childcare to all under-5s as ex-minister Rachel Maclean calls for more parental 'responsibility'
2 months ago

Top Kemi Badenoch ally says the Tories were WRONG to expand free childcare to all under-5s as ex-minister Rachel Maclean calls for more parental 'responsibility'

Daily Mail  

A top ally of new Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has claimed the previous Conservative government were wrong to expand free childcare to all under-fives. Rachel Maclean, a former minister who was chair of Ms Badenoch's successful leadership campaign, said it was false to think the state 'can do all of it'. As part of efforts to get more parents back …

Parents face hike in nursery fees as providers struggle to bring in Tories’ free childcare
4 months, 1 week ago

Parents face hike in nursery fees as providers struggle to bring in Tories’ free childcare

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. open image in gallery Mandy Blazey says she feels no better off since taking …

Free childcare rollout not ‘plain sailing’ for parents, says Education Secretary
4 months, 1 week ago

Free childcare rollout not ‘plain sailing’ for parents, says Education Secretary

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Bridget Phillipson said early years support is her “number one priority” in Government, but …

DWP news: Benefits, Universal Credit, PIP and pensions August payment dates
4 months, 2 weeks ago

DWP news: Benefits, Universal Credit, PIP and pensions August payment dates

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall has said the DWP …

Labour promises school breakfast clubs will save parents £400 a year
6 months, 4 weeks ago

Labour promises school breakfast clubs will save parents £400 a year

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Labour has said its commitment to delivering free breakfast clubs …

Two thirds of parents don’t know two year-olds could now get 15 hours of free childcare
9 months, 1 week ago

Two thirds of parents don’t know two year-olds could now get 15 hours of free childcare

The Telegraph  

Two thirds of parents are unaware that two year-olds could be eligible for 15 hours of free childcare from this week, a survey has found. Rishi Sunak’s expansion of free childcare begins on Monday, with working parents of two year-olds able to claim for 15 hours, expanding to working parents of all children older than nine months from September. The …

Tories warn of childcare 'disaster' under Keir Starmer after Labour says it will overhaul government's plan for free 30 hours a week
9 months, 1 week ago

Tories warn of childcare 'disaster' under Keir Starmer after Labour says it will overhaul government's plan for free 30 hours a week

Daily Mail  

Tories warned of a childcare 'disaster' under Keir Starmer today after Labour suggested it will overhaul the government's expansion. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said the Government is 'on track' to deliver the first phase of its rollout next week to 150,000 working parents of two-year-olds. Eligible families of children as young as nine months old in England will be able …

Jeremy Hunt’s free childcare pledge leave parents to ‘pick up tab’ as nurseries hike fees
9 months, 4 weeks ago

Jeremy Hunt’s free childcare pledge leave parents to ‘pick up tab’ as nurseries hike fees

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Parents are facing a hike in nursery fees of up …

Rishi Sunak’s free childcare scheme under threat from staffing crisis
11 months, 2 weeks ago

Rishi Sunak’s free childcare scheme under threat from staffing crisis

The Telegraph  

Nursery staff who want jobs that allow them to work from home pose a threat to Rishi Sunak’s free childcare scheme, an expert has warned. On Tuesday, an early years’ expert warned the sector’s recruitment crisis is so dire that even with sufficient government funding, there is not enough staff available to meet the rising need for childcare places. “The …

Free childcare plan will go ahead in April insists minister amid fears of delay
11 months, 2 weeks ago

Free childcare plan will go ahead in April insists minister amid fears of delay

The Telegraph  

Rishi Sunak’s flagship free childcare plan will go ahead in April, a Cabinet minister insisted on Monday amid fears of delays. The scheme, first announced by Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor, at the Budget last year, will ramp up over time so working families with children aged between nine months- and four-years-old receive 30 hours of free childcare a week. “This …

Childcare up to a third more expensive in London than rest of UK, study finds
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Childcare up to a third more expensive in London than rest of UK, study finds

The Independent  

Sign up for the Independent Women email for the latest news, opinion and features Get the Independent Women email for free Get the Independent Women email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The London Assembly Economy Committee said problems plaguing London’s childcare sector could be exacerbated by chancellor …

Childcare sector in crisis as more than half of workers considering leaving jobs
1 year, 2 months ago

Childcare sector in crisis as more than half of workers considering leaving jobs

The Independent  

Sign up for the Independent Women email for the latest news, opinion and features Get the Independent Women email for free Get the Independent Women email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy More than half of nursery staff are thinking about leaving their jobs …

Nursery places and wraparound childcare plans announced
1 year, 2 months ago

Nursery places and wraparound childcare plans announced

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. This is the largest investment in childcare in our history, so I encourage people …

Jeremy Hunt’s childcare budget boost ‘will not work’ without further reform, MPs warn
1 year, 5 months ago

Jeremy Hunt’s childcare budget boost ‘will not work’ without further reform, MPs warn

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Jeremy Hunt’s expansion of state-funded childcare “will not work” unless more …

Surge in children needing care in wake of pandemic as councils drastically overspend budgets to cope
1 year, 6 months ago

Surge in children needing care in wake of pandemic as councils drastically overspend budgets to cope

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Councils across England have seen a surge in vulnerable children …

Families on benefits can claim hundreds of pounds more in childcare benefits from June
1 year, 7 months ago

Families on benefits can claim hundreds of pounds more in childcare benefits from June

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The government will also support eligible parents with their first …

Ensuring there is enough staff to expand childcare is a challenge, says minister
1 year, 7 months ago

Ensuring there is enough staff to expand childcare is a challenge, says minister

The Independent  

Ensuring that nurseries and childminders have enough staff to expand free childcare for families is a “challenge”, an education minister has suggested. The children, families and wellbeing minister told the Commons Education Select Committee that there is “work to do” to communicate to parents who sometimes do not understand that childminders get quality outcomes. I think actually we now have …

Sunak investigated in UK over possible undeclared interest
1 year, 8 months ago

Sunak investigated in UK over possible undeclared interest

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} U.K. Prime Minister …

Childcare costs force one in four UK parents to quit work or education
1 year, 8 months ago

Childcare costs force one in four UK parents to quit work or education

The Independent  

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. …

Free childcare plan a ‘big win’ for women but campaigners warn more money is needed
1 year, 9 months ago

Free childcare plan a ‘big win’ for women but campaigners warn more money is needed

The Independent  

Campaigners have raised concerns that the government has not pledged enough money to properly implement the new childcare policy unveiled in the Spring Budget. “The Confederation of British Industry estimates that to do what the government is planning costs £8.9 billion not £4 billion, so we need to see the detail as to how this money is being distributed and …

Budget childcare changes: Eligibility calculator and when will Chancellor’s Budget measures start?
1 year, 9 months ago

Budget childcare changes: Eligibility calculator and when will Chancellor’s Budget measures start?

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Jeremy Hunt told the Commons: “I today announce that in eligible households where all adults …

Budget highlights: Jeremy Hunt announces £4bn expansion of free childcare
1 year, 9 months ago

Budget highlights: Jeremy Hunt announces £4bn expansion of free childcare

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. And we can.’ He told the Commons : “I today …

Part-time UK childcare costs now an ‘eyewatering’ £15k per year
1 year, 9 months ago

Part-time UK childcare costs now an ‘eyewatering’ £15k per year

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Childcare costs have risen by nearly 6 per cent over …

Rishi Sunak ‘shelves Liz Truss’s free childcare reforms’
2 years ago

Rishi Sunak ‘shelves Liz Truss’s free childcare reforms’

The Independent  

Rishi Sunak is said to have indefinitely postponed Liz Truss’s plan to reform the childcare system to boost the amount of free provision. In a sign of Tory frustration that plans are on hold, a member of Ms Truss’s former team told the Telegraph that pushing on with childcare reform could “detoxify the Tory brand”. “Liz wanted to make childcare …

Two-thirds of MPs would back free school meals extension, poll finds
2 years, 1 month ago

Two-thirds of MPs would back free school meals extension, poll finds

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Rishi Sunak has come under increasing pressure to extend free school …

Thousands more children set to be taken into care as council social work budgets cut
2 years, 2 months ago

Thousands more children set to be taken into care as council social work budgets cut

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Local authorities warned children “cannot afford to keep waiting” for reform, after recommendations by …

Parents ‘facing double squeeze of expensive childcare and patchy availability’
3 years, 5 months ago

Parents ‘facing double squeeze of expensive childcare and patchy availability’

The Independent  

Sign up to our free money newsletter for investment analysis and expert advice to help you build wealth Sign up to our free money email for help building your wealth Sign up to our free money email for help building your wealth SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. This year …

Make childcare cheaper so that all toddlers can attend at least twice a week, Council says
3 years, 6 months ago

Make childcare cheaper so that all toddlers can attend at least twice a week, Council says

NL Times  

All children up to the age of four should be able to attend daycare at least two days a week, even if they have a stay at home parent. To achieve this, childcare must be made more affordable, the social and economic council SER, the government's main advisory body on the economy, said in a report, RTL Nieuws reports. "If …

NSW to continue free preschool at State Government-funded centres
4 years, 6 months ago

NSW to continue free preschool at State Government-funded centres

ABC  

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet has given assurances that New South Wales won't follow the Federal Government and end free preschool at State Government-funded centres next month. Key points: State Government-funded preschools provide care to 45,000 three to five year olds The Federal Government will wind up its scheme next month, but NSW will keep funding until at least the end of …

Free child care could end soon despite report hailing its success in rescuing sector
4 years, 7 months ago

Free child care could end soon despite report hailing its success in rescuing sector

ABC  

The union representing childcare workers says ending free child care will threaten thousands of jobs and the viability of many centres, as the Federal Government looks to a new policy next month. A highly anticipated report into the Government's free childcare scheme has been released by the Federal Education Department, with Education Minister Dan Tehan warning the free ride was …

The PM has announced that families can access free childcare during the coronavirus pandemic. How will that work?
4 years, 9 months ago

The PM has announced that families can access free childcare during the coronavirus pandemic. How will that work?

ABC  

The childcare sector has been plunged into uncertainty as the coronavirus pandemic continues to develop. Stay up-to-date on the coronavirus outbreak Download the ABC News app and subscribe to our range of news alerts for the latest on how the pandemic is impacting the world "Child care and early childhood education is critical," Mr Morrison said. "We want as many …

I’m a full-time parent to a one-year-old son. Where’s the support for me at this general election?
5 years ago

I’m a full-time parent to a one-year-old son. Where’s the support for me at this general election?

The Independent  

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Jeremy Corbyn pledges Labour government would expand free childcare to all 2-4 year olds and open 1,000 new Sure Start centres
5 years, 2 months ago

Jeremy Corbyn pledges Labour government would expand free childcare to all 2-4 year olds and open 1,000 new Sure Start centres

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email But experts said questions over how the policy will be funded would "strike fear into the hearts of many providers". Labour has promised to significantly extend free childcare and open 1,000 …

Childcare subsidy changes not delivering cost savings for all despite overhaul, report finds
5 years, 5 months ago

Childcare subsidy changes not delivering cost savings for all despite overhaul, report finds

ABC  

A new report has found that only about one third of families surveyed have seen a reduction in childcare costs since a major overhaul of subsidies came into effect. Key points: Increasing workforce participation was a key objective of the childcare subsidy changes However, the report found 77 per cent of parents surveyed said last year's changes had made no …

Cuts to children’s services are pushing young people into violence and exploitation, experts warn
5 years, 10 months ago

Cuts to children’s services are pushing young people into violence and exploitation, experts warn

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Funding for children’s services has been slashed by a third …

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