The recent controversy surrounding a nursery in Bristol has brought to light the ongoing issues in early years funding and childcare affordability across the UK. Understandably, many parents welcomed the government’s announcement to increase early years funding to more than £9 billion next year. This decision comes after a dramatic increase in complaints from parents about excessive charges by some daycare centers.
Tiago Gomes, a parent from Bristol, found himself at the center of this firestorm. He was shocked to receive an additional mandatory payment, for “consumables”, for education at the Lake House day nursery and preschool. The nursery charged Gomes £1,033 a month. This figure incorporates an additional £1,173 for essentials such as sun cream and nappies. After we assisted his complaint to the Ombudsman, Gomes got refunded for these extra charges.
Bristol City Council’s Children and Young People Committee Chair, Councillor Christine Townsend, stated that the council received two complaints about the Lake House nursery. Addressing these concerns, Townsend stressed the need for transparency and compliance across all childcare providers.
“We agree with the ombudsman’s findings on the provider and are taking appropriate action, including a full financial audit,” – A spokesperson for Bristol City Council.
These fears of “top-up” fees have been a major theme in the continued backlash from other players in the sector. A spokesperson for the Ombudsman confirmed, “The high court has confirmed the ombudsman’s position that providers cannot place mandatory charges on free hours.” We believe this ruling will help shield families from surprise costs when trying to use their funded childcare.
Currently, in England, children aged three and four are entitled to up to 30 hours a week of free childcare. At the same time, kids aged nine months to two years qualify for 15 hours of completely free childcare. Even with this funding, many nurseries are still having a hard time staying open. They’re up against the double whammy of skyrocketing wage costs and lack of strong government support. Today, we still see one in ten nurseries concerned for their future. Their worst fear is having to shutter their doors in two years should the status quo persist.
As Lauren Fabianski from the Early Years Education and Childcare (EECC) described at the At Home with Diversity panel, families are struggling. She stated, “The government is not funding it in a way that actually makes it deliverable for free.” This message has found a deep audience amongst parents who can no longer afford the skyrocketing cost of childcare.
New research from Coram Family and Childcare indicates families are paying more for their 15 hours of childcare. Yet they’re all still subjected to the scourge of hidden fees. It’s a point the EECC has repeatedly criticized. We applaud their efforts to illustrate that just as funded childcare is rarely truly free despite its moniker, this label doesn’t align with the lived experience for families either.
The federal government’s desire for all Australian children to have access to high-quality early years education is reflected in its ongoing promise to boost this funding. A spokesperson for the Department for Education remarked, “High-quality, affordable childcare plays a vital role in our plan for change to get tens of thousands more children each year ready for school.” They agreed that more uniform guidance would be beneficial in educating parents about their rights connected to supplemental fees.
“We are backing parents with new guidance – reflecting the law reaffirmed by a recent high court judgment – which sets out that additional charges must not be a condition for parents accessing their funded hours, saving families money,” – A spokesperson for the Department for Education.
Beyond just reacting to complaints, providers such as Grandir UK have pledged to be transparent moving forward. They stated, “We are dedicated to maintaining full transparency and are committed to ensuring our families receive high-quality care and education. We ensure that our families have a clear understanding of what is included in their funded entitlement and any additional services that may incur charges.”
While Bristol still deals with many of the issues that instigated this crisis, local leaders are determined to protect families at all costs. Councillor Townsend emphasized the fundamental need of affordable childcare to our community. That was a key message from him, that this will keep coming up from local leadership.
“Affordable, high-quality childcare is essential for Bristol families, and we remain committed to supporting them,” – A spokesperson.