Scheme aims to tackle rising childcare costs and give greater autonomy to families
Liz Truss is considering a change to the childcare subsidy system where funds for childcare would be redirected from nurseries directly to families.
Under the current scheme, all parents in England with children aged three to four years old are entitled to receive 15 hours of free childcare a week during term time, with some eligible families allowed up to double that amount.
The funding for this, however, is sent straight to nurseries, currently.
It is reported that Truss and Kit Malthouse, the Education Secretary, are considering altering this proposal by sending these funds straight to parents.
The aim is to give parents greater autonomy over their finances, and could allow for parents to save money if grandparents or other relatives take care of the child.
The Times reports that another option being considered is for parents to be given a flexible childcare budget in place of a paid-for space, with the government loosening rules on how old children need to be to qualify for placements and who can provide these services.
Bridget Phillipson, the Shadow Education Secretary, said the potential plans were “half-baked”. She added:
“Childcare is vital: for parents, for children, for our economy and for our society, but these half-baked plans show the Conservatives have no idea how to create a system that works for families.
Labour will create a modern childcare system that supports parents from the end of parental leave through to the end of primary school, starting with free breakfast clubs for every child in every primary school in England.”
The Department for Education (DfE) stated they are considering “a wide range of options” to help families with childcare, but “no decisions have been made”.
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