Ministers are taking action against nurseries that charge banned ‘top-up’ fees, which are preventing parents from accessing much-needed childcare. Education minister Stephen Morgan emphasized in an interview with The Independent that the government is committed to exploring all possible solutions to address this issue, which is widespread across the country.
The problem of excessive fees was highlighted earlier this year when it was revealed that parents were facing fee increases of up to 15 percent to cover funding gaps in the government’s free childcare scheme. Mr. Morgan shared a concerning example of a parent receiving free funded childcare but being charged an additional £2 per hour as a ‘top-up’, which is not allowed.
In response to these challenges, ministers will be cracking down on overcharging for items like food and nappies in addition to addressing the issue of ‘top-up’ fees. Mr. Morgan acknowledged the difficulties parents face in terms of affordability, availability, and accessibility of childcare, emphasizing the need for fairness in the system.
While acknowledging the positive work done by the majority of nursery providers, Mr. Morgan stressed the importance of making guidance in this area as clear and consistent as possible. He did not rule out the possibility of more stringent measures if needed to ensure that parents have access to affordable childcare without facing barriers like excessive fees.
The government is gearing up for a surge in demand for childcare services with the forthcoming expansion to 30 free hours of childcare from the age of nine months. Plans are in place to open thousands of new nursery classes in schools, with funding available for schools to create new or expanded nurseries. The ultimate goal is to provide high-quality early education to all children, regardless of their background or their parents’ income.
Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, emphasized the importance of ensuring that sector funding reflects the true cost of delivering early years provision to make childcare genuinely affordable for all families. It is crucial to address the underlying financial challenges in the childcare sector to make a lasting impact on the affordability and accessibility of childcare services for parents across the country.
