Mark Whitehead 04 September 2017

Nursery staff facing pay cuts over free childcare rollout says think tank

The Government’s new 30-hours free childcare scheme is so underfunded that nurseries would have to pay their staff below the minimum wage to make it work, according to new research.

The New Economics Foundation think tank says that for nurseries to break even they would need to pay staff £7.33 an hour, a cut for 62% of the least-qualified nursery workers and 85% for those with A-level equivalent qualifications.

From this month most parents in England are now entitled to 30 hours free childcare a week for children aged three to four and the Government says more than half of those eligible have now applied.

But the amount of government subsidy per hour of childcare is fixed regardless of location and age of the child and providers say it fails to cover the true cost.

Lucie Stephens of the New Economics Foundation said: 'This research shows that the whole system for funding childcare in this country doesn’t really work.

'Nurseries will either pass on the extra cost to parents, cut services or squeeze their workers’ wages. None of that is good news.'

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Chief Executive

Ebbsfleet Development Corporation
up to £165,000
Ebbsfleet is one of the UK’s most ambitious regeneration projects, a 21st-century Garden City Ebbsfleet, Kent
Recuriter: Ebbsfleet Development Corporation

Virtual School Inclusion Support Officer

Essex County Council
£32768.0000 - £38550.0000 per annum
Virtual School Inclusion Support OfficerPermanent, Term Time£32,768 to £38,550 per annum (full time equivalent)Location
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Senior Business Development Officer

Essex County Council
£36341.0000 - £42754.0000 per annum
Senior Business Development Officer - Integrated Passenger Transport UnitFixed Term, Full Time£36,341 to £42,754 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Adults Social Worker - Neighbourhood Team

Essex County Council
£37185 - £50081 per annum + Flexible Working, Hybrid Working
Interview dates
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Investment Marketing and Web Officer CDC

City Of Doncaster Council
Grade 8, £33,708 - £37,399
The postholder should be experienced in planning social media activity, refreshing web content and analysing their impact. Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Recuriter: City Of Doncaster Council
Linkedin Banner