Louth nursery's concerns over childcare free hours changes

Free childcare hours for working parents in England will cover all children under five by late 2025

A Lincolnshire nursery has said it will struggle to cope with the government's planned changes to childcare funding.

Free childcare hours for working parents in England are set to be expanded to cover all children under five by September 2025.

The Riverside Playgroup in Louth said they will be worse off under the move, which aims to boost the economy.

The Department for Education has said they are "increasing the rates paid for government-funded hours."

"The changes are great for parents as it helps them get back to work," said Katie Hall, Riverside Playgroup manager.

"But we are struggling already because the funding right now is so low."

She continued: "The funding rate we get from the government does not cover our basic costs, so obviously the more government-funded children we take on, the less money is coming in."

Nursery manager Katie Hall says the move is positive for parents but not currently workable for her childcare setting

The new help for parents is set to be introduced in stages, with eligible working parents of two-year-olds gaining 15 hours of free childcare per week from April 2024.

Children between nine months and two years old will get 15 hours of free childcare from September 2024.

All eligible under-5s will get 30 hours of free childcare from September 2025.

But Ms Hall has said they have already had to reduce staff members, with concern these changes will make the situation worse.

"It has not been thought through in terms of providers actually being able to provide the sessions," she added.

The Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years echoed the nursery's concerns about the childcare plans.

"There is still a significant shortfall in what is required to deliver the ambitious expansion of early education and childcare, particularly because the funding rates for three and four-year-olds remain perilously low," a spokesperson said.

Who will get 30 hours free childcare and when will it start?

Parents who rely on Riverside Playgroup said they sympathised with the childcare provider.

Chantel Bradford, 30, said: "The nursery will struggle as it is small, so the government needs to do something to help both parents and the staff."

Jason Tamton, a parent who uses the nursery in Louth, said he sympathised with Riverside Playgroup's concerns

"It is such a thankless job because so many people come and drop their kids off here," Jason Tamton, 35, said.

"I fully sympathise with this nursery because it must be hard, all the parents know how hard it is with your own children never mind 30 of them."

A Department for Education spokesperson said: "We are rolling out the single biggest investment in childcare in England's history, and are confident in the strength of our childcare market to deliver 30 free hours of childcare for working parents from nine months old up to when they start school.

"To support the early years workforce, we are investing hundreds of millions of pounds to increase rates paid for government-funded hours, which can be used to support staff salaries, and are providing a package of training, qualifications, and expert guidance worth up to £180m."