Teesside school-based nurseries ready for childcare expansion but with concerns

We're hearing from Teesside school leaders with nurseries who say affordable childcare for working parents 'is a difficult nut to crack', but they welcome the expansion.

It comes as working parents in England will be able to access 30 hours a week of funded childcare for children older than nine months from today.

Debra Walker is from the Iris Learning Trust, which runs a school in Normanby near Middlesbrough and two others in the North East.

She said: "If we work together I'm sure it can be a success but I think there's a lot of 'pothole in the road' to get from A to B. I think affordable childcare for working parents is a really difficult nut to crack and I think if this Government does crack it, I think it would be such an achievement. It's fundamental to who we are as a country and our society and our economy.

"Schools and leaders aren't immune from the economy that we're living in; so everything's going up, utilities are going up, staff pay rises are going up, the food to feed the children and everything is on the up, but the formula that we get we barely break even with two year old offer.

"The Secretary of State has always said that she wants our children to get the best start in life and she's stuck to that, but I think I'd want whatever system that are coming through, I'd hope to hear the sector's voice and working together to understand the nuances of staffing and arrangements."

She added she had some concerns before the expansion came into effect from today: "I think it's mainly to do with the funding formula that you get for two year-olds. That's causing problems with sustainability of the offer. The Government increased the ratio from 1:4 to 1:5, so obviously that's eased the burden a little bit."

She also said there is a problem about funding that she can foresee happening: "Some transparency and how it's going to work, so if you are offering or a part of the scheme or the pilot or however it looks, to offer school-based nursery, I think it has to be made really clear on what the actual costs are."

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has called on eligible parents in England to "take up" the offer.

The expansion of funded childcare - which was introduced by the Conservative government - began being rolled out in England in April last year for working parents of two-year-olds.

Working parents of children older than nine months are now also able to access 15 hours of funded childcare a week during term time.

Meanwhile, Government funding for a programme which offers children from low-income families free meals and activities during the school holidays will be extended.

The Department for Education (DfE) has said working families on free school meals could save more than £800 a year thanks to its investment into holiday clubs.

Some £600 million is being invested to extend the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme - which funds councils to provide holiday childcare, activities and food for children eligible for free school meals - for another three years.

The HAF programme - for school-aged children from Reception to Year 11 - helps parents to make savings of more than £300 a year, the DfE said.

In July, the Coram Family and Childcare charity called for the HAF programme to be maintained after March 2026 to ensure disadvantaged children have childcare during school holidays.

Ms Phillipson said: "Giving every child the best start in life is my number one priority, which is why we are delivering on our commitment to provide hundreds of thousands of children with 30 hours government-funded early education.

"Whether it's to save up to £7,500 a year, support parents to get back to work or reduce the pressure on grandparents who so often have to step in, the benefits are widespread.

"The offer is just around the corner, and so I'm urging every eligible parent who wants it, to take it up."

Andrew Forsey, national director of Feeding Britain, said: "Today's news will be welcomed by hundreds of thousands of parents across England.

"The support provided to children from lower incomes through the Holiday Activities Fund eases the pressure on family budgets during the school holidays, enhances their access to enriching and physical activities, and gives them a healthy meal each day during the school holidays.

"This delivers a raft of benefits for children and their families, so it is excellent news that the Government is extending this provision for a further three years."