A new study confirms that City of York Council was the only local authority in the 30 Hours childcare programme to allow eligible parents to use out of school clubs (OOSCs) to get their full entitlement.

Involving six OOCS in the programme was enabled by York’s unique partnership of childcare providers – Shared Foundation Partnerships – and has been a key factor of the authority exceeding expected parental take-up of its 30 Hours scheme by 900 places.

The council allowed parents and carers to use a combination of before, after-school and holiday childcare by the OOSCs in conjunction with other providers. This enabled them to achieve their full 30 hours entitlement from September 2016. Some parents chose to place their 3 or 4 year olds at the same OOSC as older siblings while others used them to get their full 30 hours entitlement during school holidays to make up their hours

Complementing a range of other childcare providers, Clifton Moor out of school club, FunFishers out of school club and pre school, St Paul’s out of school club, Haxby Road Primary Academy as well as KOOSH at both Park Grove and Acomb contributed to the scheme.

Early feasibility work indicated that there was enough demand for the scheme and capacity within the childcare sector for the impact of OOSCs offering funded places to have minimal or no impact.

Over a year after the trial started, this latest study shows that 30 Hours funded places at out of school club has actually increased their occupancy levels and is being monitored to ensure primary school-aged children don’t miss out on places.

The study shows too that some parents using out of school clubs have changed their working patterns indicated by them moving their 30 hours across three full days rather than across five.

As a result of this take-up, holiday clubs may choose to introduce an hourly rate charge rather than just daily or half-day session fees. To promote their place in the 30 Hours scheme, they have also increased marketing activity which has helped boost their business.

To find out more about the 30 hours childcare programme, please visit www.yor-ok.org.uk/families/Childcare/free-early-years-education-and-childcare.htm or to check eligibility go to www.childcarechoices.gov.uk .

Parents who already have an eligibility code are reminded to please reconfirm their eligibility for 30 hours every three months – please submit before 31 March ahead of the summer term 2018. (more…)