South Essex nurseries have expressed concern over the Government’s new policy for nurseries to offer 30 hours of free day care from September.

The policy was announced two years ago to support working parents. The new policy is a top up for the current 15 hour provision.

However, National Day Nurseries Association national survey found only 44 per cent of the 788 nurseries across the country confirmed they will take up the new scheme. To be eligible, both parents need to earn the equivalent to 16 hours at National Minimum or Living Wage over the coming three months.

Jade Chatfield, manager of the Elim Church Day Nursery in Southend, is not certain how the new policy will impact on their nursery.

“We have no choice but to wait and see how this unfolds and then go from there.

“It’s the fact from the financial point of view because the funding we get from the Government isn’t enough, it’s much less than the money we get from paid by customers.”

Sian Pillai, manager of Little Teddies Nursery in Basildon, is not very confident.

She said: “We will take up the offer but at the moment it will depend on how many parents take up the offer.”

Manager of Bo-Peep Nursery in Southend, Steve Thomas, is frustrated about the insufficient government funding. He said: “Government funding is not enough to help cover for the cost of increasing minimum wage.”

However, Joanne Jones, communications manager for Estuary Housing which runs Centre Place Family Centre Nursery in Southend, said: “We are delighted that in just a few months’ time, we will see the first families benefiting from this scheme.”

Jessica Bronsdon, 29, a parent who has a child at Centre Place Family Centre, added: “As a working parent, nursery fees can take a large portion of my wages. I have raised the question of whether working full time is viable with high childcare fees.”

Minister for Children and Families Robert Goodwill said: “We are determined to support as many families as possible with access to quality, affordable childcare, which is why we are investing a record £6billion every year by 2020 in childcare – more than ever before. This includes an additional £1billion per year to pay for the free offers and to raise the total hourly funding rate to local authorities for three and four-year-olds to £4.94 per hour.”