Labour’s free childcare policy doesn’t go far enough | Letters

Estelle Smart says the childcare hours on offer are in termtime only, so will not help all working parents. Plus letters from Joanna Cave and Alastair McLeish Polly Toynbee is right to praise the government’s investment in our children’s future by promoting free breakfast clubs and extra nursery places (To those who question what Labour stands for – look at Best Start. It will change Britain’s future, 8 July). However, as regards the free childcare for preschool children of 30 hours a week from September, what is rarely discussed is that the 30 hours are termtime only. Most nurseries are open all year round. Few working parents have the luxury of working only in termtime, and it actually equates to free childcare of around 22 hours per week all year round. This just about covers the cost of working three, not four, full working days. So please can people be honest about what is being offered.Estelle SmartMalvern, Worcestershire• In response to Polly Toynbee’s excellent article on the government’s plans to bring back Sure Start, rebranded as Best Start Family Hubs, there has been no mention of the numerous small charity projects round the country, such as the one we have in our town, which have tried to keep its legacy alive. The council and community groups came together to take the transition grant offered when our children’s centre closed, and kept some of its essential core services going. Will there be funding for small community-based hubs such as ours so that families can access support in their own neighbourhoods? I do hope so.Joanna CaveFaringdon, Oxfordshire Continue reading...

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