The call was made last week by the National Childminding Association and the Daycare Trust following the Government's announcement of a new childcare allowance covering 85 per cent of costs for NHS-funded students, providing them with the same benefits already enjoyed by higher education students.
Health secretary John Reid outlined the scheme, which is expected to help around 6,000 students each year and cost the Government 17m, when he addressed the annual conference of the Royal College of Nursing in Harrogate. Under the scheme, which comes into force in September and will be means-tested, a student training to become a nurse, midwife or physiotherapist will be able to claim up to 114 a week for one child and up to 170 for two or more children.
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