South Yorkshire nurseries 'could close' under new childcare plans
Nurseries in Sheffield say their funding must increase dramatically if government plans to offer 30 hours of free childcare go ahead.
It's claimed some nurseries in South Yorkshire could be forced to close if government plans to offer 30 hours of free childcare go ahead.
Ministers are planning to increase the amount of free childcare offered to working parents from 15 to 30 hours in plans already being trialled elsewhere in the country.
But there are worries childcare providers will struggle to meet the costs if their funding's not increased dramatically.
Beverly Hilton owns Lodge Moor Nursery in Sheffield - she says the new system will put pressure on them:
"I agree that parents need the extra childcare but we've got to cover our overheads and we're certainly not doing that now so it's just going to get worse. Nurseries will close - definitely."
"I think there's a lot of worry if the funding rates aren't increased because most nurseries are already struggling to be sustainable on the current amount we get per hour per child. It doesn't cover our costs already so to double that is going to make it really tricky."
*"My nursery loses at least £2 per hour for every funded child. So 15 hours a week, that's £30 per child per week over 38 weeks in an academic year so we're talking thousands of pounds."*
It comes as teaching union NAHT says hundreds of nurseries would be forced to close under the new plans, with pre-schools ceasing to be "financially viable".
The government are offering more funding for nurseries taking on the extra children - but Beverley says it'll have to be a big rise:
"We've just had one after 3 years and that already does not cover the outgoings - does not cover what it costs to offer that place to a child based on the rises in minimum wage, living wage and things like that - utility bills. You can only do it for so long before something gives way and the nurseries won't be here any longer."
She and other nursery owners across South Yorkshire are now urging councils to make sure they get enough funding to survive.
Councillor Jackie Drayton, Sheffield City Council’s cabinet member for Children, Young People and Families told us:
“I welcome the fact that families will have access to more free childcare. However it is very important that the Government funding for this covers the costs incurred by nurseries and other childcare providers. We would not expect them to lose out as a result of this Government policy, or be funded at a reduced hourly rate.
“We will continue to work alongside childcare providers to help make sure there continues to be a choice of childcare for families in Sheffield. Good quality child care is very important to ensure our children have the best start in life.”
A Department for Education spokeswoman said:
"Our proposals for supplementary funding, which takes account of maintained nursery schools' current funding rates, are for at least two years. This extra funding will provide stability for nursery schools, which make a valuable contribution to improving the lives of some of our most disadvantaged children."
"The funding is part of our record investment in early years - #6 billion per year by 2020. We will be consulting with the maintained nursery schools' sector on future funding in due course.''