David Burrowes MP this week visited Carey Hall nursery which is one of the many voluntary or private sector providers of nursery care for children. This provision has been threatened by the Government's new code of practice which prohibits nursery providers from charging parents a fee to reflect the shortfall in funding for 2 1/2 hrs of free nursery care.
Voluntary, Private and Independent childcare providers are holding out from signing a new contract which will oblige providers to offer the free childcare but without funding to account for the true cost of provision. An urgent meeting with all providers is being on Wednesday 20th March at 7pm at Blades Hall, Bramley Road, Cockfosters. Please contact David’s office on 0208 360 0234 to confirm location.
David Burrowes took the issue up in Parliament by questioning the Government Minister on Monday:
13. Mr. David Burrowes (Enfield, Southgate) (Con): What recent representations he has received from child care providers on the Government’s child care policy. [194075]
The Minister for Children, Young People and Families (Beverley Hughes): Child care providers in the maintained and the private, voluntary and independent sectors all have a vital role in ensuring that local authorities can fulfil their new duties to secure sufficient child care for working parents and parents with disabled children, and to improve the well-being of young children. I am personally very keen to hear the voice of providers, and I take every opportunity to do so. I want local authorities to do the same.
Mr. Burrowes: Will the Minister therefore hear the voice of the voluntary, private and independent providers in my constituency? They are concerned that following the full implementation of the code of practice next month, there will be a loss of provision in my constituency. Many are concerned that the Government do not understand that what is effectively a one-size-fits-all approach does not take account of the shortfall in funding.
Beverley Hughes: I would have those concerns, if they had proved to be true. The hon. Gentleman is jumping the gun somewhat. I understand that so far a third of providers have signed the new funding agreement with Enfield council, his local authority, and that the rest of them have almost three months to do so. I am clear that the £3 billion that the Government are putting in for the free entitlement is absolutely adequate. I ask the hon. Gentleman to consider the amount of money that his council is forwarding to private and voluntary providers. Given the size of its dedicated schools grant, the allocation is less than the national average. I suggest that the hon. Gentleman talks to his council to see whether it is passing on all the money from the Government that it can.
David Burrowes has now followed the concern about a shortfall of funding up with the Council. A petition of over 1000 parents will be submitted in Parliament next week to call on the Government to take action to avoid the consequences of their new code which could lead to the loss of over 40 local nurseries.
David Burrowes said, "I am extremely concerned about the impact of the Government's new code of practice for childcare. Free childcare for 3 and 4 year olds needs to be matched with funding to take account of the true costs of the voluntary and private sector's provision. I am calling upon the Government and Council to ensure that the implementation of the new code does not lead to the loss of the excellent childcare provided by nurseries in Enfield."
