Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely has welcomed news that childcare providers on the Island will receive a funding boost.
It has been announced by the government that childcare providers on the Isle of Wight will receive a 10.1 per cent increase to their hourly childcare payments for children aged three to four and a 32.4 per cent increase to the hourly rate for two-year-olds.
The government has set aside an initial investment of £204 million that will be distributed through a new grant - the Early Years Supplementary Grant - to childcare providers via local authorities.
It will take the average rate paid for places for three and four-year-olds from its current £5.29 per hour to £5.65 per hour, and take the average rate paid for places for two-year-olds from its current £6.00 per hour to £7.95 per hour.
The government is also extending the provision of 30 free hours of childcare a week to all working parents.
Working parents of two-year-olds can access 15 hours per week from April 2024 and from September 2024 all working parents of children aged nine months to three-year-old can access 15 hours per week.
From September 2025 all working parents of children aged nine months to four-year-old can access 30 hours of free childcare per week.
Welcoming the news, Mr Seely said:
“Supporting and expanding our childcare sector means more parents can return to work or progress in the workplace.
“The Isle of Wight Council will see their hourly payments increase for the children they look after.
"Providers will now receive 10.1 per cent more funding per hour for children aged between three and four years old and 32.4 per cent for children aged two years old.
“The government is rightly making sure more parents can rely on affordable childcare, allowing them to take up more work and help grow the economy.”
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