Access to affordable and high-quality childcare empowers parents to make the choice that is best for them – whether that be returning to work or staying at home to raise their children.
I wanted highlight some important changes to financial support for childcare, including:
- From April 2024, working parents of two-year-olds can access 15 hours of free childcare.
- From September 2024,15 hours of free childcare will be extended to working parents with a child from nine-months-old.
- From September 2025, working parents of children aged nine-months-old up to school age will be entitled to 30 hours free childcare per week.
- From April 2026, the Government will raise the threshold for the High-Income Child Benefit Charge from £50,000 to £60,000, as well as halving the rate at which the Child Benefit is withdrawn.
To check your eligibility for this support and how to access it, check out The Education Hub. These captures all you need to know about the education system, including childcare.
Supporting childcare providers also plays an essential role in expanding the availability of childcare.
That’s why the Government has increased the hourly rates paid to providers of free childcare, paying £204 million this year, increasing to £288 million by 2024-25, with further uplifts to follow each year.
The Government is also introducing childminders grants, which amounts to £600 for those registering with Ofsted and £1,200 for those registering with a childminder agency.
If you are a childcare provider and want to find out more, check out the Childcare Choices Hub. This contains email templates, leaflets, posters and social media content to help you promote the 30 hours and tax-free childcare.
These changes represent a significant step forward in helping parents make the right decision for them and their family.
However, if there’s other support that would be helpful, please do email me and let me know.
Devon County Council provide a lot of information that can help navigate your way through the system and find a suitable provider. Early Years and Childcare in Devon
You may also find North Devon Children's Centre | Barnstaple | Action For Children a useful resource
Family Hubs
Exciting things are happening in Devon to improve support for families with children. As part of the Governments expansion to the Family Hubs programme we will be seeing further investment through Devon County Council into North Devon.
Children's Centres have been operating in Devon for many years, and since 2018 they've provided targeted support to families with children aged zero to eight years old, who have specified levels of need. Families' needs were assessed, and if they met the criteria, they could be referred for help and support from their nearest Children's Centre.
The charity, Action for Children, has been managing Children's Centres in Devon on Devon County Councils behalf, and is now helping prepare for this change to Family Hubs.
Devon family hubs - Devon Safeguarding Children Partnership (devonscp.org.uk)
How do I contact my nearest Family Hub services?
The next step will be to decide where the support can be accessed, but for now we are asking families to ring ahead to speak to one of the Action for Children team for advice and support, or complete an online form requesting that a member of Action for Children's staff contact them.
The online form for families to request contact with Action for Children is available on their Devon Family Hubs website.
The telephone numbers for families to contact Action for Children are:
- Teignbridge Family Hub – 01626 354657
- West Devon Family Hub – 01822 614210
- South Hams Family Hub – 01803 847626
- Exeter Family Hub – 01392 277205
- East Devon Family Hub – 01395 226789
- Mid Devon Family Hub – 01884 250449
- Torridge Family Hub – 03300 415494
- Barnstaple Family Hub – 03300 415493
- Ilfracombe Family Hub – 03300 415493
If you are a childcare provider and want to find out more, check out the Childcare Choices Hub. This contains email templates, leaflets, posters and social media content to help you promote the 30 hours and tax-free childcare.