Nurseries can no longer be able to charge parents sneaky extra fees to use their government-funded free childcare hours under a government crackdown
Nurseries have been banned from charging parents sneaky ‘top-up’ fees for rent, bills and toys in a government crackdown.
Childcare providers have been ordered to stop forcing parents to pay concealed additional fees to access their “free” childcare entitlement. In England, all three and four-year-olds qualify for 15 hours of state-funded childcare, irrespective of their parents’ employment circumstances, while working parents can access 30 hours a week from nine months.
Additional support is also accessible, though eligibility varies based on the child’s age and whether parents are employed or claiming particular benefits. However, mothers and fathers have reported facing unexpected expenses.These range from supplementary charges and advance registration costs to payments for items such as books and arts and crafts supplies.
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Yet now, nurseries are forbidden from compelling parents to purchase additional paid hours if they wish only to utilise the free 15 or 30 hours, reports Birmingham Live.
Labour Party Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson commented: “A child’s early years shape so much of their future – but I know how complicated childcare can be for parents.
“When you’re juggling work, family life and household bills, you don’t always have the time to pore over every line of small print or question whether a charge is really optional or not. Parents are saving up to £7,500 a year thanks to our 30 hours of funded childcare, and they should not have the value of these savings quietly chipped away at by small charges building up week after week.
“Every pound matters when money is tight. That’s why we are tightening up guidance and making it clearer what parents should and should not be charged for. Funded hours must be delivered without hidden costs, and parents should not feel pressured into paying extra.
“If parents notice a charge they weren’t expecting, they should feel comfortable asking their childcare provider to explain it clearly. If concerns remain, they can speak to their local authority, which oversees funded places and has powers to act if the rules are being broken.”
The Government is also clamping down on what it terms as “vague” charges for items such as “sustainability”, “enhanced ratios” or “enrichment”.
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