Parents told to pay extra or lose out
Page 1 of 2 5:00AM Saturday June 16, 2007
By Claire Trevett
One of the first major childcare groups to support the "20 free hours" scheme is warning parents that if they don't pay up to $3.75 an hour in "optional" fees the free funding could be withdrawn.
KidiCorp has sent letters to parents of about 3000 children offering the 20 free hours of early childhood education to 3- and 4-year olds, but saying it might have to withdraw it if not enough parents sign up to an "optional fee".
Chief executive Wayne Wright said the extra charges of $1.25 to $3.75 an hour were needed.
"The reality is that it's not a 'free' 20 hours that the Government is offering. It's a subsidy - that's what it is."
National Party early education spokeswoman Paula Bennett said parents were effectively over a barrel because centres could drop the "free" funding altogether if they didn't cough up.
"It is difficult for parents to speak out. They want the subsidy and won't be turning away from anything that saves them a few dollars each week, but the Labour Government has made a promise to parents - 20 hours for free - and it's time to follow through."
The free funding scheme is due to begin next month. However, many centres have opted out, saying the rates of $4.09 to $10.60 an hour are not enough to meet even the basic costs of centres in expensive areas. The rates are based on the average national cost of a basic service. Centres cannot charge compulsory fees on top of this.
Ms Bennett said the Government's insistence that the hours were "free" was a farce. Other examples of top-up charges were the Auckland Kindergarten Association, which is charging 50c an hour, and the TreeHouse in Tauranga, which is charging a "quality education surcharge" of $20 a day to cover such things as good staff ratios, guest speakers, a "beautiful and aesthetic learning environment" and "provision of nutritional and sumptuous morning tea".
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