Booking Date Set for 9 Month Olds’ Childcare Entitlement

Booking Date Set for 9 Month Olds’ Childcare Entitlement

The government has set 12th May as the date from which parents will be able to start booking funded childcare places for children aged between 9 and 23 months. Arguably the largest childcare entitlement expansion ever, the policy is expected to dramatically increase demand on the sector. The policy is being brought in in stages, with an initial entitlement of 15 hours expected to expend to 30 hours next year. 

While everyone acknowledges that improving access to childcare is in children’s best interests, many in the childcare industry are raising questions about the preparedness of the sector to handle the increased demand. The government maintains that the policy is on track and that providers are finding ways to increase capacity. Even so, the critical issue of staffing remains to be addressed by the government, with no detailed workforce strategy yet to be published. Only with sufficient staff could the policy really be successful. This is all the more true with the youngest children where a higher staff:child  ratio is required.

Nonetheless, there are signs the government has learnt from the more chaotic roll-out of the 2-year-old entitlement. By announcing the date for enrolment early, they are giving providers more chance to gauge their local demand and to put in plans to meet it. It is also expected that local authorities will confirm the rates they will receive to deliver the funded places from next month. Even so, there will likely be considerable work for local authorities to do to ensure that there is sufficient capacity in their region for every child wanting a place to take one up.

Against all of this there is another challenge too. While for the government this policy is squarely aimed at parents, looking to relieve their costs and help them re-enter the workplace, its most direct consequences are for children. Capacity must be found, but that capacity must not come at the cost of quality. Again, this means resolving the staffing crisis, because it is only though brilliant childcare practitioners that children really benefit from access to early education.