PM looks to extend childcare support to after-school clubs

BORIS JOHNSON yesterday called for more parents to be able to use taxpayerfunded childcare support for afterschool social and sports clubs.

The Prime Minister named toddler clubs such as Tumble Tots and Little Kickers as he outlined his hopes – groups he was familiar with from being a parent in north London.

Mr Johnson also said he wanted to attract more people to become childminders, with numbers dropping across the country in recent years.

The comments were delivered in an interview with Justine Roberts, Mumsnet founder, during which he answered questions from users of the website.

It is the latest indication of a shake-up in childcare which Mr Johnson is driving through Whitehall, in part to help with the cost of living crisis.

“If parents had better, more confident access to childcare you’d have a massive benefit to the economy,” the Prime Minister said. He mentioned two specific changes being pursued, the first centred on childcare options that can benefit from taxpayer support.

The Tax-free Childcare scheme allows hundreds of thousands of households to claim up to £2,000 a year back from their childcare bills.

Only childcare providers officially signed up to the scheme can be used. After-school clubs and play schemes are included as possible beneficiaries.

However, Education Department officials are concerned only a small proportion of such schemes are signed up.

The second change is convincing more people to become childminders. Officials fear the bureaucracy of signing up via Ofsted is putting off applicants.

Earlier this year research published by HMRC found that 1.3 million families are eligible for the childcare tax break but have not claimed it.

The Education Department is expected to publish a consultation on raising minder-to-child ratios before the summer recess.