Rosie Pressland, principal of the Pocklington Montessori School near York and managing director of the Internet College for Early Years Education, said many childcarers had lost the chance to do IT training after the scheme was axed on 23 November because of fraud.
The Government was planning to end the scheme on 7 December, but brought the date forward after receiving evidence that instances of fraudulent claims had grown rapidly.
John Healey, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Adult Skills, earlier this month told the Commons Education Select Committee that in the week up to 21 November, '9 per cent of those learning providers about whom we had concerns and from whom we had withheld payment were responsible for 76 per cent of the amount that had been claimed in that week'.
Asked why the Government did not close down only those suspected of fraud, Mr Healey said some learning providers were suspended and measures taken to tighten up the system. But he conceded, 'The rules and the robustness of the scheme was not sufficient to allow us to close down the misuse.' He said that 400 learning providers have voiced their support for a new scheme and a process of consultation is underway, with a full report expected in April.
Ms Pressland said some ILA holders who had not undertaken the scheme prior to 23 Nov- ember were unsure whether they could still access it. Those who had planned their training on the basis that the scheme would run until 7 December have not been accepted.
'They have been left in abeyance. It is sad because this was a fair and forward-looking way to provide training. I hope the Government replaces it.'
Glen Mardell, finance director at Smart Training, claimed the system was too easy to abuse and that any new scheme should be more focused to ensure quality training. He said a Level 3 childcare qualification run by his company cost 1,600, while the ILA contribution was no more than 200. He said, 'Instead of going for a million as an uptake target as with the ILA, the Government should aim for 100,000 to help people get vocational qualifications.' ILAs were abolished in Scotland and Wales before Christmas, and have been suspended in Northern Ireland.