Thousands of working parents of children aged nine-months and up are set to benefit from Government-funded childcare.
After the scheme was first rolled-out to working parents of children aged two earlier this year as part of the “largest expansion of childcare in history”, the Government has now extended this to children aged nine-months and up, ahead of expanding it even further to a total of 30 funded hours from next September.
This now means that working parents of children from the age of nine-months can now apply for 15-hours of free childcare per week.
The Government says the scale of challenge in delivering this scheme that it inherited from the former Government is a “substantial” one, but ministers are now “taking the action needed” to put this promise into action.
“To deliver what parents have been promised requires an unprecedented rate of growth in childcare places and staff,” theDepartment for Education (DfE) conceded.
ADVERTISEMENT
We’re creating an early years sector built on strong foundations, where children can start school ready to learn🧸
Eligible working parents of children from 9-months-old will begin to access 15 hours of childcare this Monday.
The expansion in Government-funded childcare hours is said to be just one step towards the Education Secretary’s vision of an early education and childcare system that “supports children to build on strong foundations” and “start school ready to learn”.
Speaking as the scheme extended to working parents of nine-month-olds this week, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson explained: “I’ve already said that early years is my number one priority, and that’s why we are delivering the childcare rollout I know will be such a help to hard-pressed parents.
ADVERTISEMENT
“This inherited plan comes with significant delivery challenges.
Working parents of children aged nine-months and up can now apply for free childcare / Credit: Troy T | Ryan Fields (via Unsplash)
“I must warn that for some parents it will not be plain sailing, and while I am excited to see children starting nursery for the first time, or parents being able to increase their working hours, the work for the Government starts now.
“Over the next year, I will be working flat out with my team to ensure the next phase of the rollout is possible.”
ADVERTISEMENT
In addition to the extension of funded childcare, the Government has also announced its intent to introduce new “wraparound” childcare places for primary school-aged children, both before and after the school day.
Find out if you’re eligible for free childcare on the gov.uk website here.
Featured Image – Tai’s Captures (via Unsplash)
News
Details released of Andy Burnham’s meetings with Manchester City owners while Mayor
Emily Sergeant
Details of Andy Burnham’s meetings with Manchester City owners during his tenure as Mayor of Greater Manchester have been released.
In case you need bringing up to speed on the situation a little first, Manchester City was found guilty back in September all of its charges related to the Premier League’s financial rules over a nine-season period, and on top of that, was also found guilty of the majority of charges in relation to its failure to co-operate with the League’s investigation.
According to the Premier League, the independent Commission found that Manchester City had arranged so-called ‘sham’ commercial deals with a number of its sponsors.
These were part of a disguised funding scheme – with those sponsors only required to pay a portion of the relevant sponsorship fees.
The remainder was then funded by Abu Dhabi United Group Investment & Development Ltd (ADUG), which owned the club.
The Commission also concluded, as quoted by the Premier League, that the club had ‘made concerted efforts to stop and frustrate the Premier League investigation’.
Within the past week or so, it has since come to light that now-Prime Minister Andy Burnham had dealings with Manchester City during his tenure as Greater Manchester Mayor, and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has now issued a public statement, giving details on the matter and what these ‘dealings’ entailed.
A spokesperson for GMCA confirmed that Burnham had a ‘formal meeting’ with Man City Chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, back in October 2021.
The statement reads in full: “In October 2021, Andy Burnham, in his role as Mayor of Greater Manchester, had a formal meeting with Khaldoon Al Mubarak at the UK Government’s Global Investment Summit arranged by the Department for International Trade.
“In his capacity as Mayor, he was a guest of Manchester City FC at home matches on a small number of occasions, including attending Vincent Kompany’s testimonial match in September 2019, where he met the Chairman informally in the stands. These have been declared in the usual way.
“Also during his time as Mayor, representatives of Greater Manchester sporting clubs would routinely join business delegations as part of Mayoral international visits.
“This included representatives from Manchester United travelling to Austin and Dublin, Lancashire Cricket Club joining a delegation to India, and Manchester City FC staff supporting visits to China and Japan.”
Featured Image – Lauren Hurley / Number 10 Downing Street (Press Image via Flickr)
News
Multiple arrests made for ‘tragedy chanting’ and police officer assault as Man City defeated Liverpool
Emily Sergeant
Multiple people were arrested over the weekend as Manchester City defeated Liverpool in a Premier League clash.
Merseyside Police have confirmed that a total of 10 people were arrested during the policing operation at Liverpool’s home ground of Anfield as they hosted Manchester City on Sunday 11 October.
One man was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police constable, five were on suspicion of tragedy chanting, one on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly, two for affray, and one on suspicion of throwing items onto the pitch.
Police are now appealing to the public, and are particularly looking to speak to witnesses of the assault of the officer.
At around 6:35pm, as fans left the stadium, a police officer sustained a ‘serious facial injury’ during the arrest of a man on Anfield Road, and was subsequently taken to hospital for treatment but is now recovering at home.
Investigating officers are now conducting enquiries, speaking to witnesses, and analysing CCTV and camera phone footage.
Chief Inspector Leanne Hobin said it’s ‘extremely disappointing’ that an officer has sustained a serious injury while carrying out their duty.
“I hope the arrests send a clear message and act as a deterrent to others,” Chief Inspector Hobin continued. “Anyone who engages in this abhorrent behaviour risks ending up in custody and getting a criminal record.
“Despite the actions of a few, the overwhelming majority of the 60,000 fans in attendance behaved well and I want to thank them for their co-operation.”
Manchester City ended up defeated Liverpool 3-0 during the Premier League clash at Anfield.
Emily Sergeant -
3rd September 2024 
