The Suffolk Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership is using Pounds 2.3m for its Neighbourhood Childcare Initiative to create between four and six new nurseries and 12 out-of-school clubs and lead to the recruitment of 114 more childminders. Most of the investment is aimed at deprived areas of Ipswich, Lowestoft and Haverhill.
Sue Thomas, chair of the Suffolk EYDCP, said, 'This funding will enable us to tackle the lack of childcare that so often prevents people from working. One of our aims is that every lone parent gaining employment in a Neighbourhood Childcare Initiative area is able to access a reliable childcare place.'
Mark Parker, Suffolk childcare planning manager, said the initiative would have a marginal impact on disadvantaged rural areas as it was aimed principally at poorer urban districts. However, he said he believed people from rural areas who work in towns could benefit from the new arrangements.
With half the population of the county living in rural areas, sustaining group-based childcare was difficult because of a small and scattered customer base. Childcarers in rural areas have received sustainability grants, while start-up costs have been met in part from the New Opportunities Fund, Mr Parker said.
'The problem we face in rural areas is viability. We have such isolated areas that often group-based childcare is really not sustainable and childminders are a more practical option.'
He said Suffolk County Council had joined with the Pre-school Learning Alliance to set up a transport scheme in rural areas for playgroup and day nursery children. Volunteers are reimbursed by the council, which pays the PLA to administer the scheme.