Free Grant Places at our Day Nursery in Liverpool
If you have a young family, you may right now be stuck in the middle of a bewildering maze.
You’re aware that somewhere out there is childcare support from the government – but exactly what, that is clear as mud.
Well, don’t worry – you’re not alone. Now the government’s own advisers have released a survey today that suggests many people are “in the dark”.
The Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission, headed up by the former Labour cabinet minister Alan Milburn, has surveyed 1,000 parents of 0-3 year olds – mostly, but not exclusively, mothers.
And the findings are quite stark. 47% of first time mothers have little understanding of what is on offer or how to access it. 57% of low income parents would like to work but are put off by the cost of childcare. And yet it’s not as if Britain doesn’t put quite a bit of money into it.
By 2020, the government will be putting £6 billion into childcare support. Some of this will go into the 15 hours of free childcare for parents of three and four-year-olds. This policy is very popular and there is high take up – with some 90% of parents knowing about this. But it’s the help beforehand that is less clear and, the government advisers think, critical. If it isn’t made obvious to new mothers, they will opt not to go back to work.
Amy Mace is a childcare worker herself – but still finds the system confusing. Someone like Amy actually has a few options. If Amy decided to go back to work, and had a low enough income to be eligible for tax credits, she would get a proportion of her childcare costs paid – at most this could be 70%, but it depends on earnings and region. If she earns more and is not eligible for tax credits, then other funding might kick in. And if her employer does the voucher scheme, Amy could be eligible for that.
If you have a child who will be turning 3, our Day Nursery in Liverpool can help you apply for your free grant place. Please contact us and we will be happy to discuss the options with you.
