KEY POINTS:
A group of Auckland mothers say parents made family planning decisions on the pre-election promise of free early childcare, only to be let down.
Amy Malcolm yesterday told the education select committee that there was initially great excitement at the Government's pre-election promise of 20 hours' free childcare for all three and four year olds.
She said the policy was not just about extra spending money, but would have a major impact on the decisions people were making about their families, and many voters had supported Labour on the strength of it.
It impacted on decisions such as whether to return to work earlier or to have another baby.
"Many families can only afford the expense of early childhood education for one child at a time, but the 20 hours free funding could have enabled families to plan another child because free childcare for the first child would be provided under the scheme."
Ms Malcolm, Kirsty Wright and Kirsty Bamford - all mothers of young children in Auckland - were behind a petition signed by 3375 people calling on the Government to fulfil its promise that 20 hours' free education will be provided for three and four year olds. They are in a parents' lobby group called 20 Hours Free. Please, set up just before the July launch of the policy.
Ms Malcolm said the promised funding would also make it worthwhile for parents to return to work without having to allocate all the income into early childcare - a situation faced by many families who had contacted her.
The mother of two children, aged 2 and 3, she said she had worked as long as possible but left because her income was largely eaten up by childcare costs.
"For me, it would make financial sense to go back to work if the childcare costs of one of my daughters were funded. It would also enable them both to benefit from a formal early childhood education."
She said the group's main concern was that the free hours were promised to all three and four year olds, yet thousands were missing out.
Using the word "free" created a false expectation for parents and few were getting the $90 a week saving estimated before the 2005 election.
"Forty-seven per cent of those in Auckland and 27 per cent nationally are not getting any free hours at all.
"At the same time, their voting parents are paying through their taxes for the other 53 per cent to receive it. And then they're paying for their own children's through their taxed income. That's not fair."
The group asked the committee to recommend the Government change the way funding was allocated to allow for the higher costs of some centres.
Ms Malcolm said parents were also willing to pay extra for centres that offered a higher-quality service than the minimum, and centres should be allowed to impose compulsory charges rather than rely on the more uncertain parental sign-up to optional charges.
The current system of allowing optional charges made many centres reluctant to sign. Kirsty Bamford said centres should also be monitored carefully to ensure the money was passed onto parents rather than being creamed off by centres.
The select committee will invite the Ministry of Education to respond to the petition at a later date.
