After-School Childcare Consultation for parents

This consultation has now concluded and a new policy passed by the Islington Council Executive.

After-school Childcare Funding in Islington Executive Report, October 2022

Consultation

Islington Council subsidises out-of-school childcare in schools and voluntary sector settings to make sure we have enough affordable childcare for low-income working and studying families.

The Council has increased funding for out-of-school childcare despite reductions in core funding of over 70% from central government to the Council budget between 2010 and 2020.

We have also increased funding to the Childcare Bursary to support parents with the costs of childcare as they move towards training and employment.

We want to support residents out of poverty through work. We are proposing changes which will make things fairer for families across the borough. Council funding will be used to support families on the lowest incomes with the costs of childcare.

The new model aims to:

• redistribute after-school childcare funding across more providers so that the subsidy is more widely accessible.
• provide financial support to providers in order that fee increases can be phased in.

What we propose

• if your household income is less than £30,999, you will pay no more than £5 per day for after-school childcare, with sibling discounts for these families
• if your household income is more than £30,999, you will be charged at a rate decided by the provider, but no more than the average rate for inner London, currently around £12 per day
• that each after-school setting has two free places for the most vulnerable children as decided by the provider

Have your say

To tell us what you think of our proposals please fill out the consultation survey:

After-school childcare consultation for parents

Other sources of financial support for after-school childcare

The after-school childcare subsidy is part of a wider package of support for the costs of childcare for working and studying families. The Council is committed to supporting parents to access the financial support available through raising awareness of what’s on offer and how to apply. We do this through the outreach and engagement work of our Family Information Service and we encourage all providers to talk to parents about what is available to them.

Islington Council offers a Childcare Bursary which supports parents with the costs of childcare as they move into work or training.

Parents can also get support with the costs of childcare through the following government schemes:

• Tax-free childcare
• Universal Credit for Childcare
• Care to Learn (Under 20)
• Discretionary Learner Support
• Childcare Grant

Consultation key dates

• Consultation Monday 6 June to Friday 15 July 2022
• Report published, early autumn 2022
• Proposed new model implemented, subject to the outcome of the consultation, second half of autumn term 2022

Parents and carers are invited to a public information session on Tuesday 5 July at 6-7pm to find out more about the consultation and to ask questions.

Register for after-school childcare information session.

If you would like a paper copy of this consultation please contact eyadmin@islington.gov.uk