Information on Loughborough

Free Childcare to help the Low Paid to Work Scheme to be Piloted in Leicestershire

Posted on 09/09/2008

childcare

Leicestershires selection as part of the pilot scheme to support low income families with free childcare, so they can access training and return to work, has been welcomed by Eric Goodyer, Labours Prospective MP for Charnwood. Low income families can now benefit from this new £75million programme announced by the Labour Government yesterday.

The ‘Free Childcare for Training and Learning for Work’ programme will support 50,000 low income families where one parent is working and the second parent wants to improve their skills so that they can return to work. As well as free childcare, families will receive help from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to identify and attend training. Workless families who cannot get support from elsewhere will also be eligible.

Childcare costs of up to £175 per week per child (or up to £205 per week per child in London) will be paid directly to the childcare provider.

Children’s Secretary Ed Balls said:

“We are committed to eradicating child poverty and have already lifted 600,000 children out of poverty. This new programme will help families break out of the poverty trap.

“High quality, affordable childcare is vitally important. By making this offer we are helping parents who would otherwise find it difficult to get financial help for childcare, to gain the skills and the confidence they need to return to work.”

Eric Goodyer, Labours Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Charnwood said:

“Labour has delivered on child care and early years provision, as we said we would. We will continue to target resources as those who need it most.”