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UK News

Get churches involved in new government scheme, says Christians Childcare Forum

by Desmond Busteed

But the industry has given the Government's request a cool reception because current subsidies do not cover nurseries' actual costs.

The government's move to double the provision is being rolled out to parents in September 2016, a year earlier than planned.

As part of its One Nation plans, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan is asking childcare providers and councils to come up with ideas of how they would deliver the new offer.

Ms Morgan said: "For too long, rising childcare costs have been a barrier to working parents, and particularly mothers.

"This One Nation Government is on the side of hard-working people - that is why this time next year we'll see the first families benefit from the Government's offer of 30 hours of free childcare for working parents.

"Today, we're calling on providers to tell us how they can offer innovative, high-quality childcare that helps parents return to work while keeping more of their hard-earned money in their back pocket."

The Christian Childcare Forum has urged local church to play a part in any future child care strategy.

"What pleases me, what I'm excited about is that we are as a country beginning to think this one through," said spokesman Keith White on Premier's News Hour.

"There is a shortfall in funding, but we need to think all round."

"It takes a village to raise a child , and so this is something where we all need to put our heads together to see what is best for children and families," added Mr White.

New figures show the vast majority of working parents - more than 80 per cent - would take up the extended offer of free childcare for three- and four-year-olds if it were available now.

Listen to the Christian Childcare Forum's Keith White speaking to Marcus Jones on Premier's News Hour:

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