NWN-291020

Thursday, October 29, 2020 6

NEWBURYNEWS

Newbury Weekly News

Childcare sector hit hard by Covid impact

Nurserieasndchildmindecrlsoseasdemandplummets Reportby NATHANHYDE Local Democracy Reporter email newsdesk@newbuyrnews.co.uk

demand for places was down 70 per cent compared with pre- Covid levels. The study also found the furlough scheme and Govern- ment grants have been “a signifi- cant help, but provided far from full protection”. But in West Berkshire, the council says it must also cut the amount of financial support it gives to childcare providers over the next five years, despite the impact of the pandemic. Nurseries receive a certain amount of funding per child from the Government and the council then tops that funding up, using money in its Early Needs Budget. However, it is exploring plans to cut that support, because the budget is running a £999,952 deficit. The council has agreed to begin drawing up a five-year plan to reduce the deficit in April 2022, but says there is “a need for caution” as many providers are already struggling.

NURSERIES and childmin- ders in West Berkshire are closing down because their income has dried up during the Covid-19 pandemic. West Berkshire Council says childcare providers are facing financial difficulties as demand has plummeted during the pandemic and the “ongoing impact of Covid-19 is far more detrimental than imagined”. Three West Berkshire nurs- eries and 10 childminders are closing down, while another 13 nurseries are struggling finan- cially, a meeting of the council’s Schools Forum heard on Monday, October 19. Parents have been paying for fewer hours of childcare since lockdown and the council says some are still “anxious” about sending their children back, due to concerns about job insecurity and Covid-19. Private providers lost a consid- erable amount of income during the summer months, when demand is usually at its highest.

Maria Morgan, from Victoria Park Nursery School, told the meeting the summer income usually provides an important “buffer” for nurseries when demand drops in the autumn and winter months. The money they receive from the Government scheme which pays for 30 hours of childcare a week for three- and four-year- olds with working parents has also dropped, as job losses mean fewer families are now eligible. The council is also concerned that more childcare providers will close or be forced to make redun- dancies when the furlough scheme ends at the end of this week. Nurseries across the country are facing similar issues. The Institute of Fiscal Studies found that 25 per cent of private nurseries ran a “significant deficit” during lockdown and when they reopened in June,

Your Local Specialist Will Writer

About us The team at Kept Assets

Our products - Your New Will

- Reviewing existing Wills - Creating Protective Trusts - Inheritance Tax Mitigation - Lasting Power of Attorney - Pre-paid Funeral Plans - Probate & Executor Advice - Document Storage

specialise in ensuring that your final wishes are fulfilled in the best way possible. Whether writing or reviewing your Will, creating Trusts or advising on Inheritance Tax Help is nearby!

Follow the Hallowe’en trail at Parkway A SPECIAL Hallowe’en trail is running at Parkway Shopping centre in Newbury to Satur- day. outlet. Completed forms can be then be submitted at Paperchase. child will be given a prize when they complete the trail.

Phone 01635 959111

2 Inches Yard, Newbury RG14 5DP contact@keptassets.com www.keptassets.com

Among the family prizes on offer are a Hotel Chocolat hamper, a free meal at Nando’s and a £50 Superdry voucher.

The starter packs include a dragon-themed colouring compe- tition for children, and each

Trail starter packs can be collected at Parkway’s FatFace

Advertisement

*HR̆ LV SURXGO\ FDULQJ IRU 7DGOH\ IDPLOLHV DJDLQ

)XQHUDO 'LUHFWRU *HR̆ &KXUFK is back at the heart of the Tadley community , 44 years after starting his career in the funeral profession in north Hampshire. *HR̆ KDV MRLQHG 5HDGLQJ :RNLQJKDP DQG &URZWKRUQH EDVHG 0LOHV DQG 'DXJKWHUV Funeral Directors which has a new branch opening in +HDWK (QG 5RDG 7DGOH\ 0LOHV DQG 'DXJKWHUV LV SDUW RI WKH KLJK TXDOLW\ Funeral Partners family of businesses, which KDV SHUVXDGHG KLP WR FRPH RXW RI UHWLUHPHQW to serve local families again. *HR̆ DSSRLQWHG DV %XVLQHVV 3ULQFLSDO DQG )XQHUDO 'LUHFWRU KDV UHFHLYHG D ZDUP UHVSRQVH IURP ORFDO IDPLOLHV DQG KDV DOUHDG\ EHHQ LQ GHPDQG WR DUUDQJH IXQHUDOV IRU members of the community. “It’s humbling to have this opportunity,” he said, “It is so nice to be there for people to help them through some of the darkest moments of their life.

“I pride myself on giving the highest standards of care and service and it is very rewardingwhen families are so appreciative of the support and understanding they receive.” *HR̆ VWDUWHG LQ WKH SURIHVVLRQ GULYLQJ IXQHUDO vehicles, progressing to become a Funeral 'LUHFWRU ,Q KH HVWDEOLVKHG *HR̆UH\ &KXUFK DQG &RPSDQ\ ZLWK WKH ¿QDQFLDO EDFNLQJ DQG VXSSRUW RI EXVLQHVV SDUWQHU -RH Curran which, after many successful years, ZDV VROG LQWR FRUSRUDWH RZQHUVKLS 1RZ *HR̆ LV SDVVLRQDWH DERXW UHWXUQLQJ to his roots. For support with any funeral DUUDQJHPHQWV SOHDVH FRQWDFW *HR̆ RQ 0118 321 2928.

*HR̆ &KXUFK %XVLQHVV 3ULQFLSDO )XQHUDO 'LUHFWRU

&DOO XV IRU LPPHGLDWH VXSSRUW DGYLFH RU WR DUUDQJH D KRPH YLVLW RU WR ¿QG RXW PRUH DERXW RXU SUHSDLG funeral plans. :H DUH KHUH WR KHOS 24 KRXUV D GD\

:LQQHUVK 5HDGLQJ 7Z\IRUG %LQ¿HOG Crowthorne 0DLGHQKHDG

0118 0118 0118 5 01344 01344 01628 8

New EUDQFK RSHQLQJ soon

Tadley 5 2OG )RUJH +HDWK (QG 5RDG %DXJKXUVW 7DGOH\ 5* 26 5 LX

ZZZ PLOHVIXQHUDOV FRP