In Portsmouth, settings receive £4.88 per funded hour. But what is one of the highest rates in the pilot scheme will fall to a basic pre-supplements rate of £4.09 in September.
‘As in most areas, some providers have shown some concern at the rates, but the silent majority appear happy and think they can make this work,’ says Anthony Harper, prevention and early help locality manager.
As there were limited places available, at the beginning of the trial, eligibility was limited to parents earning up to £22,500. ‘This was raised to £28,500 in October and £35,000 in January as we developed certainty over take-up,’ says Mr Harper. ‘Not all parents applied as soon as they were eligible and so the local authority allowed eligible parents to backdate claims to the beginning of the half-term in which they applied, although this has only applied to a few families.’
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