Nursery World - Funding threat to childcare plans

The expansion of childcare services could be in jeopardy unless the Government doubles its expenditure to 13bn over the next few years, a leading children's charity has warned. A survey of local authorities by 4Children found that 54 per cent said sustainability was the top concern for providers, while 85 per cent said difficulty in affording childcare was parents' top concern.

The expansion of childcare services could be in jeopardy unless the Government doubles its expenditure to 13bn over the next few years, a leading children's charity has warned.

A survey of local authorities by 4Children found that 54 per cent said sustainability was the top concern for providers, while 85 per cent said difficulty in affording childcare was parents' top concern.

Meanwhile, provisional findings from research for the Big Lottery Fund's Out of School Hours Childcare Programme, due to be launched in May, show that 57 per cent of all out-of-school providers have received financial support from the Big Lottery Fund.

But 48 per cent said their financial security depended on ongoing funding like the BLF start-up grants, which are no longer available, and other Government cash.

Anne Longfield, chief executive of 4Children, said, 'Many parents have benefited in recent years with a real growth in childcare in their area.

But the system does not provide ongoing funding for childcare, relying on fees alone. Many parents simply cannot afford the cost, leaving providers uncertain about their long-term sustainability as a result.'

The charity estimates that a doubling of Government expenditure to 13bn by 2010 is needed to sustain existing services.

The findings, revealed at 4Children's annual policy conference, 'Creating Opportunities, Building Futures', were supported with the launch of two new resources for childcare providers aimed at tackling sustainability and quality.

4Children's Aiming Higher quality assurance programme is a national scheme for childcare in integrated settings catering for the nought-to-16 age range. The other resource, Data4Children, provided in partnership with LogicCall, is an information system for childcare providers.

For information about the Aiming Higher programme contact Brenda Pascal at 4Children on 020 7522 6920. For details about Data4Children contact LogicCall on 020 8385 7474 or email enquiries@logiccall.co.uk.