In June I wrote that some funding to Infant & Toddler child care programs in BC might be restored.  Looks like this did happen afterall.  Here is the letter (link no longer available) from Minister Reid.  Some child care programs (and parents) will be breathing a bit easier due to this announcement…however overall these (and other programs as well) child care centres are still facing a funding cut.  Many child care centres in BC raised their rates on July 1, 2007 to compensate for this funding shortfall.

The New Zealand government have just launched a new child care program that will provide families with up to 20 hours of child care per week for free.

New Zealand Child Care News

According to an article in the New Zealand Herald…

The Government will fund centres for up to 20 hours a week and six hours a day for 3 and 4-year-olds at between $4.28 and $10.89 an hour for each child.

The article also points out that uptake on the program by part day child care programs has been slower than expected due to the funding rates being too low.  In addition, many private child care centres have yet to opt in to the program. More info is provided in this article.

An online news blog provides an opportunity for parents to indicate how the child care changes will impact them.  Here is a sampling of some of the comments:

At my daughter’s childcare the 20 free hours have been adopted – for now. The funding for 20 free hours doesn’t quite reach the previous funding + parent fee for some children or only just matches it for others, depending on how many hours they are in care. This is using the 80-99 per cent level of registered teachers. As the teachers reach full registration their salaries will increase and costs will rise. On top of all other cost rises. The 20 free hours, while a great subsidy, should not be given the label free – it just doesn’t work. Change the label or up the funding, surely it’s as simple as that.

The creche my two sons attend has accepted the subsidised hours now on completion of the form by the Parent/caregiver. It’s going to make a huge reduction in what we pay each week – Thanks 🙂

I have a three-year-old boy and have been trying to find the 20 hours free day care. I called a number of the centres listed on the Team Up website. None of the teacher led centres in my area were participating in the scheme. The best I could do was Pt Chev kindy with a waiting list starting 3 years and 7 months. Other kindies had longer waiting lists. Well done the Government for a poorly thought out and executed scheme. Free for a 3-year-old does not exist in my part of Auckland.

While moving ahead with a progressive social policy is to be commended, it will take some time to determine if funding child care on a part time basis for children really is feasible from both an operational and family perspective. We will keep watching this one….