Published on Monday 13 January 2025
Working families are set to benefit from an expansion of childcare provision for early years and primary-aged children, thanks to over half a million in funding from Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council.
Following funding from the Department for Education, BCP Council is investing £615,000 to support the delivery of 213 early years and 375 wraparound childcare places.
The funding is being awarded directly to childcare providers and schools to help the expansion of their offer and will support working parents with childcare needs.
The funding will look as follows:
- From April 2024: 15 hours of funded childcare for working parents of children aged two years old.
- From September 2024: 15 hours of funded childcare for working parents of children aged nine months old.
- From September 2025: An increase to 30 hours of funded childcare for the above groups.
BCP Council is also committed to ensuring there is childcare for all primary school-aged children (reception to year six) on every school day outside normal school hours to enable parents to regularly work or study.
This work has now started, and full implementation is due by September 2026.
So far, the council has allocated over £550,000 to 36 providers for a mixture of both capital and operational funding. It is anticipated that this will deliver 588 new childcare places in 2025.
Councillor Richard Burton, Portfolio holder for Children, Young People, Education and Skills said:
“We want all local children and young people to have the best opportunities in life and are supported to flourish and grow.
“Investing in these early years are so important for a child’s development and to help us deliver this ambition. I am so pleased that we are able provide the funds to provide more places for children, and to support our parents and carers who are in or who want to work.”
Phase two of this programme is already underway, aiming to further increase the number of childcare places available.
In addition to this work, the council is also launching a campaign in early 2025 to encourage people to work in the childcare and early years sector. There is a national shortage of people working in childcare and the council is keen to highlight the benefits and the opportunities that this type of career can offer.
BCP Council’s investment follows the Department for Education's (DfE) announcement to increase childcare provision.