Thorney Close Childcare Centre in Sunderland is an example of a provider which has worked with parents to create packages to meet their needs, without the limitations of defined sessions or start or finishing times.
The centre opened in 1994 and has been offering the flexible free entitlement since 2007.
It offers 16 funded places and is open each weekday from 7.30am to 6pm for 50 weeks of the year. The 15 hours can be accessed as a standalone offer for term time only, or as part of a larger childcare solution. Families using the centre are mostly studying in further education, higher education or are working parents, and a traditional sessional model does not meet their needs. The centre describes itself as being very active in the local community, which is a key part of engaging non-working parents. As a result, many local families who are not working, studying or training choose to take up their free-entitlement place at the centre.
BESPOKE PACKAGES
Patterns of use vary. Some parents are happy to use their five three-hour sessions or three five-hour sessions each week. Those who need full days purchase additional hours around them. In addition, the centre works with parents and carers where possible to create bespoke packages to meet families' individual needs. For example, in the summer term this year there were children taking a variety of different options: 8am-12pm each day, 1.30pm-4.30pm, 10.30am-3.30pm and 9am-4pm.
Additional flexibility is offered to parents who are studying as they are able to purchase additional weeks over holiday periods so they can complete their course work.
MIXED ECONOMY OF NEED
The centre has had to be creative with staff working patterns; it has created three daily shifts starting at 7.15am, 8.30am and 10am. These ensure the centre's expenditure reflects income and ratios are maintained at all times. Sustainability is of course a priority - each year the manager finds out what existing families require, and is then able to fill the empty sessions with children requiring only their 15 hours.
Should the Government's proposals go ahead, providers will need to continue to learn from examples such as Thorney Close, and to consider what is possible in terms of responding to parental choice and need.
Delivering to a mixed economy of families who choose to use their 15 hours in different ways, and supporting them with additional childcare choices, will be essential.
FURTHER INFORMATION
James Hempsall is director of training and research provider Hempsall's (www.hempsalls.com)
