The National Day Nurseries Association’s (NDNA) survey in 2016 reports the top 5 key challenges for childcare providers are:


• increasing staff wages in line with the New Living Wage. • achieving a profit or a surplus. • delivering funded hours sustainably. • recruiting and retaining staff and • business costs.


The NDNA states from its survey that with regards to Pre-school funding:


“The funding gap is now the highest ever at £1.68 per hour on average per 3 and 4 year old place. Offering 15 free hours results in an average annual loss of £34,000 per nursery, money that must be made up through paying parents’ fees. Doubling this entitlement to 30 funded hours for working parents of 3 and four year olds is going to increase the shortfall further but leave nurseries with no means of making up that loss.”


Given this scenario, it’s essential that the MoD and the RAF put in place clear policies to ensure sufficient childcare is available, that wild variations in cost are moderated and that standards are not compromised. In our modern society, not to do so could have an impact on recruitment and retention, the working effectiveness of the Service person and, ultimately, how valued by the RAF our people feel.


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www.raf-ff.org.uk


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