Frustration over underfunding of childcare in Brighton and Hove

Government funding for '˜free' early years childcare has remained the same for a second year, creating a challenge for parents and providers.

Brighton and Hove has the lowest level of funding of any unitary authority in the south east and faces another year with the same funding and no inflationary increase.

Members of the city council’s children, young people and skills committee heard about the issues on Monday (January 14), during presentations on childcare sufficiency funding and nursery fees.

Caroline Parker, head of early years, youth and family support, told councillors how the funding levels were in effect a cut, as staff pay and other costs will increase.

The authority’s funding is based on an area cost adjustment linked with East Sussex.

Area cost adjustments make an allowance for how expensive an area is when it comes to delivering services based on a number of factors including the number of children, wages and business rates.

Labour Councillor Mo Marsh said: “What can we do? If we do nothing about it we won’t get anywhere.

“Obviously we are a unitary authority and our children are a very different demographic.”

Cllr Marsh, a retired teacher and councillor for 24 years, also recalled when Brighton and Hove came under East Sussex County Council’s before the unitary authority, she felt it did not get its fair share of funding then either.

She said: “I remember when East Sussex did not give us our fair share of musical instruments for the county music service, it is just one example.”

Outgoing committee chair, Labour Councillor Daniel Chapman said: “I have written to MPs and I have written to the minister myself to say we are not getting the appropriate area cost adjustment.

“It’s also been raised through officers directly with the department. We have done this several times and they are not moving on it, but we will continue.”

Since September 2017, working parents of three and four-year-olds have been eligible for the extended entitlement of 30 hours free childcare.

The rate of funding from the Department for Education (DfE) for early years is set at £4.45 per hour for three and four-year-olds and £5.20 per hour.

Average costs of childcare in Brighton and Hove for young children are £54 for a full day, £5.57 per hour for sessional care and £5.43 per hour for a child minder.