15th January 2010
At the West Dunbartonshire Council meeting on 25 November 2009 the difficult decision was taken to increase, or introduce, charges on a range of Council services. Charges for childcare in Council-run Early Education and Childcare Centres and Out of School Care services, were increased and the structure of charging altered.
Education Convenor for West Dunbartonshire Council’s Education Services explains;
“We fully understand that such an increase in childcare charges will have a significant impact on some families currently using these services.
The Council provides high quality childcare but this is currently subsidised and significantly less expensive than the service in privately-run nurseries. While 3 and 4 year olds have an entitlement to a level of free pre-school education, the Council is under no obligation to provide childcare. Given the limited capacity for childcare hours within Council-run Centres, the majority of parents seeking child care in a nursery setting have to do so through the more expensive private sector.”
Education Services are very aware that parents who particularly benefited from the unique 50% discount applied in Council centres will see a significant increase in costs. However, the discounted rate was so markedly below what might be considered a reasonable charge for child care that it could no longer be supported.
In the current difficult economic climate the Council has to consider how to most appropriately protect and resource statutory services and review how any additional, non-statutory services can be delivered. Child care charges have been kept low over a number of years, benefiting working parents but within the current budgetary context, the Council can no longer continue to subsidise childcare services to the current level. While the new charging policy more closely mirrors the private sector charges, it continues to be subsidised from the Council budget.
Detailed letter and information is being made available (see attached) to all parents using the service advising individual parents on how charging will affect them.
Centres providing for children aged 3 - 5 years
For 3 and 4 year olds who access their free entitlement in a Council centre, charges will be applied differently for term time and holiday periods.
Term Time
Entitlement is for 2.5 hours for 5 days over school terms, from the term after the child’s third birthday (12.5 hours). Charges will only be made for any childcare in excess of the entitlement.
As stated in the Council report, additional hours up to 3 hours will be charged at £3.50 per hour, or part hour. So if parents access 2 hours childcare in a day they will be charged £7.00. If they access 2.5 hours they will be charged £10.50, 3 times £3.50.
If parents require more than 3 hours per day in addition to the free entitlement, that will be charged at an hourly rate based on the sessional charge. This means that in term time, parents will be charged £2.90 per hour, or part hour, based on a sessional rate:
Holiday Periods
During holiday periods, ie outwith term time, children have no free entitlement so the sessional charges will apply, based on the current operating hours of the centre.
For children accessing childcare in a centre offering up to 40 hours, this will be charged as follows:
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Up to 4 hours (half day) £13.60
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Over 4 and up to 8 hours ( full day) £23.20
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Up to 40 hours per week (full week) £112.00
For children accessing childcare in a centre offering up to 45 hours, this will be charged as follows:
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Up to 4.5 hours (half day) £15.30
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Over 4.5 hours and up to 9 hours ( full day) £26.10
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Up to 45 hours per week (full week) £126.00
Centres providing for children 0 – 3 years
In relation to children who are 3 and younger with no entitlement, the sessional charges will apply at all times.
Children aged 0 - 2 years
Centres open 45 hours:
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Up to 4.5 hours (half day) £17.10
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Over 4.5 and up to 9 hours ( full day) £29.70
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Up to 45 hours per week (full week) £144.00
Centres open 40 hours
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Up to 4 hours (half day) £15.20
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Over 4 and up to 8 hours ( full day) £26.40
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Up to 40 hours per week (full week) £128.00
Children aged 2 – 3 years
Centres open 45 hours
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Up to 4.5 hours (half day) £16.20
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Over 4.5 and up to 9 hours ( full day) £27.90
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Up to 45 hours per week (full week) £135.00
Centres open 40 hours
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Up to 4 hours (half day) £14.40
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Over 4 hours and up to 8 hours ( full day) £24.80
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Up to 40 hours per week (full week) £120.00
Education Convenor, May Smillie adds, “We are currently reviewing payment methods for childcare and hope to offer parents an increased range of payment methods in the near future.
WDC Education Services fully understands and appreciates that individuals may require to review their child care and work arrangements in the light of the new charges and make difficult decisions which they consider to be in the best interests of their family. However it is in the best interests of everyone in West Dunbartonshire that the Council secures sufficient income to deliver services across all sectors particularly in this current challenging economic climate.”
A letter to parents from Terry Lanagan (pdf, 28Kb)
