Bromley are the leaders in offering Childcare Affordability Programme (CAP) amongst the London boroughs. CAP aims to provide affordable childcare places, through subsidising the childcare provider. The scheme is aimed at lower income parents who are working or about to return to work, by offering reduced price, or more flexible, children places.
The London Development Agency (LDA) announced that all 33 London boroughs have signed up for the Childcare Affordability Programme (CAP), although many boroughs have a disappointingly low number of providers signed up for the scheme, which isn't the case for Bromley.
A quarter of the nurseries in Bromley have already signed up for the programme, which is due to start in November. The scheme runs from 2005-2008, and is monitored by the LDA.
Graham Arthur, Executive Councillor for Children and Young People, said: "This is good news for working parents who are on low incomes and who have young children. Well done to the Bromley providers who have signed up for the scheme".
For further information on the CAP scheme contact Children's Information Service on 020 8464 0276 or London Development Agency website www.lda.gov.uk
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
Up to 10,000 affordable and flexible childcare places are expected to be created through directly subsidising OfSTED registered and approved childcare providers.
Childcare providers in participating boroughs that meet the CAP criteria are eligible for:
- full-day care places to be subsidised up to £30 a week for families in receipt of the Child Tax Credit at a higher rate than the family element, so that full‑day care places are offered to eligible parents at £175 per week. Parents can claim up to 70 per cent of this amount in Childcare Tax Credit;
- funding to offer improved flexibility of places in terms of the number of hours per day or the number of sessions per week;
- the London Development Agency: the Mayor's agency for business and jobs. The LDA prepares the Mayor's business plan for London and mobilises the support and resources of hundreds of partner organisations to help build a thriving economy for London's people, businesses and communities. The LDA is dedicated to improving sustainability, health and equality of opportunity for Londoners;
- the Childcare Affordability Programme (CAP) was announced in the Government's 10 Year Childcare Strategy launched in December 2004;
- all 32 London boroughs and the Corporation of London have now expressed an interest in participating in the programme which means that eligible parents (those in receipt of the higher rate Child Tax Credit, receiving more than £547.50 in Child Tax Credit for 2005/2006) across London will have the opportunity to access affordable quality childcare of their choice. The deadline for bids from providers is 30 September.
The evaluation of CAP will feed and influence the 2007 Spending Review.
For further information please contact Sophie Anderson, marketing and recruitment co-ordinator, on 020 8464 8371, or email sophie.anderson@bromley.gov.uk.