LSC’s Post

👶 | NEW REPORT: The massive expansion of free childcare currently underway is at risk of not delivering for poorer and rural families. This paper from Jodie Reed & Jamie O'Halloran considers some of the key delivery challenges and reimagines childcare as a proper public service. https://lnkd.in/eVERaCuZ

Will this be the year things will turn around for childcare? Unfortunately, I don't think so......not driven by the government at least. The problems have repeatedly been covered by the likes of Coram Family and Childcare with their annual survey (check out 2024's below) and Pregnant Then Screwed bringing a speakerphone to the problem making sure it's heard loud and clear. Yet the solutions in response don't go deep or wide enough. I speak to parents every week who are frustrated and overwhelmed by the status quo, having to find workarounds and create their own solutions. But they are also some of the most resilient people I've met, especially in the face of such pressures, who ultimately just want to get on with life. It's why I love to see the market doing what I think it does best, with incredible teams of people working to solve problems in new ways all along the value chain, companies such as Bubble Koru Kids CocoRio Raise Kinsail tiney PonchoPay Pebble and in time Grove. It's easy to look at this problem space and see it as a parents' problem, or see it as a mothers' problem but what drives me is the fact that it's a problem - period. That's it. Just a fundamental belief that this problem should not exist. I'm looking forward to seeing the above, and the many more who I'm probably unaware of continue the fight towards a better future (I'm sure there are tonnes more so please tag those you know in the comments) https://lnkd.in/e-hRBbVg

Did you know that today is National Day Without Childcare?! It's not lost on us that today and this past Friday, that many of our neighbors were not only directly affected by the storm but with school closures they are also facing major childcare issues. Learn more about the work that the Childcare Changemakers are doing fighting for transformative change in our nation's childcare system. #TLHLeonCSWG #AffordableHighQualityChildcare #DayWithoutChildCare

❓ Is the childcare sector ready to handle the demand created by the unprecedented expansion of childcare entitlements? 📰 Co-written with Ella Lingard and Gavan Conlon, our London Economics report investigating the financial health of the childcare sector was published by the Department for Education today. Our research highlighted significant differences in experiences across the sector, both for childcare providers and for parents, in the run up to the childcare entitlements expansion. Full report can be found here: https://lnkd.in/esK_CNGw

Two important tax updates took effect from Monday, 1 July 2024: Changes to the bright-line property rule If you sell a property on or after 1 July 2024 the bright-line property rule will only apply if the property is sold within 2 years of purchasing it. If you sell a property before 1 July 2024 the current bright-line periods still apply. FamilyBoost FamilyBoost is a childcare payment to help eligible households pay for the cost of early childhood education (ECE). If you're eligible you will be able to claim up to 25% of your weekly childcare fees, or a maximum of $975 every 3-months. Childcare fees can include optional charges and services. You can read more about both these updates on the IRD website, visit https://lnkd.in/gWsTaJVG for the bright line changes and https://lnkd.in/gXd6GmTD for more about FamilyBoost.

Cradles in the conference room? That’s not quite what employer-sponsored childcare means, but it is a popular benefit — and states are starting to take notice. 👶🏼 👀 Offering tax incentives and cost-sharing programs are great ways to help working parents who need support in managing and affording childcare situations. Check out what some states are doing to close the childcare gap. 

Cradles in the conference room? That’s not quite what employer-sponsored childcare means, but it is a popular benefit — and states are starting to take notice. 👶🏼 👀 Offering tax incentives and cost-sharing programs are great ways to help working parents who need support in managing and affording childcare situations. Check out what some states are doing to close the childcare gap. 

Did you know families with working parents earning up to £100,000 gross per year and children aged 0-11 can benefit from the Government's Tax-Free Childcare program? You could receive up to £2,000 annually—and for families with registered disabled children aged 0-17, that amount rises to £4,000 per year! Setting up a Tax-Free Childcare account is simple through the HMRC website. For every £8 you deposit, the UK Government adds £2 as a top-up payment. If you're in Scotland and need childcare assistance, our sister company LCS can help. Whether you need help finding the perfect candidate or want to register someone you've already found, LCS can guide you through the process. They can even register your chosen childcare provider (such as a nanny) to receive wages directly from your Tax-Free Childcare account. Family Payroll is here to handle the payroll side, ensuring everything runs smoothly. Got questions about Tax-Free Childcare? We're here to help—just give us a shout! #TaxFreeChildcare

Wraparound Childcare in England will only receive a met or a not met grading from Ofsted. What that means is not only does the regulator not really offer commentary on the quality of the practice that they observe through inspection, but that owners, managers and practitioners are confused as to what good practice looks like. A key element of the guidance around the National Wraparound Childcare Programme is delivery of quality practice in provision set up or scaled up under the programme. But with no meaningful measures that are accessible and easily understood by wraparound providers, how can that be achieved, when it's so very difficult to be objective about quality provision; what does good even look like? More here https://lnkd.in/esAiMAuZ

Petition Support families by bringing nannies into the 15/30 hours free childcare scheme We would like the government to support more families by including Ofsted nannies in the 15/30 hours free childcare scheme. Nannies are a critical pillar of the childcare sector and their inclusion could maximise the options available to working parents and drive UK productivity. More details We believe working practices demand flexible childcare and nannies uniquely meet these needs. For example, they may often be the only childcare solution for families with special needs. Including Ofsted nannies in the scheme could drive the UK’s productivity by helping more families secure and afford the flexible and professional childcare they need. Engaging another valuable childcare resource could also reduce the pressure on struggling nurseries, enhancing the scheme's overall efficiency.” https://lnkd.in/efx8WwMk