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Around a third of three and four-year-olds enrolled at teacher-led pre-schools will not be covered by the Government's 20-hours free policy, the Education Ministry confirmed today.
It released figures showing 38 per cent of centres covering 30 per cent of all enrolled three and four-year-olds had opted out of the scheme.
Take up rates varied hugely across regions, with 49 per cent of Auckland registered pre-schoolers not initially covered.
Miss Clark said that having a take-up rate of 70 per cent from day one was a "tremendous achievement".
"We've always been optimistic of good takeup and this is very good takeup," she told reporters.
Miss Clark said she expected the takeup to grow over time, particularly in areas with an initially low takeup like Auckland.
Since the takeup figures were collated on June 26, another 30 centres had already come forward to join and kohanga reos, about half of which were eligible, were currently considering whether to opt in.
The Education Ministry figures show the takeup was strongest in rural centres with fewer than 1000 people, where 85 per cent of eligible preschoolers were covered.
In major urban centres the figure was 68 per cent.
The cost of the policy is estimated at $178 million in the coming year.
The Ministry figures backed the findings of a survey released by the Early Childhood Council yesterday.
And the council - which represents 1000 centres caring for more than 50,000 children - says that of the remaining centres, almost half will make parents pay extra to cover the cost of the scheme.
The 20 free hours was introduced yesterday after being announced as a major plank of the Budget in 2004.
The council last night released figures from a survey of its own community and private childcare centres. It showed that rejection of the scheme was highest in Auckland, where more than half the centres will not offer the free hours.
Council chief executive Sue Thorne said that of the remaining 60 per cent nationwide, 45 per cent said they would ask for "optional charges" from parents to cover costs.
While these charges could not legally be compulsory, they would be much like school fees, which parents feel obliged to pay, she said.
Almost a third of the centres said they would increase charges for the time outside of the 20 free hours.
Ms Thorne said a parent with a child in a centre for 30 hours a week might expect to be saving two-thirds of the bill after the introduction of 20 free hours. "But that is simply not going to happen.
The key is that parents will end up paying for the 'free' education. They may have some saving, which I'm sure will be welcome, but it will not be a saving equivalent to 20 hours."
The survey included sessional and all-day centres and many special-character facilities including Montessori, Steiner, Reggio Emilia, Christian and teen-parent units.
The survey does not include kindergartens - which account for about 46,000 3- and 4-year olds - kohanga reo, or home-based networks.
The Kindergarten Association has said it will opt in to the scheme.
Of the centres that said they would opt in, 8 per cent said they would have to cut back on services such as meals and trips, and another 8 per cent said they would spend less on "resources".
More than two-thirds of centres said the Government rate to pay for the free hours would not cover the cost of providing the service.
The survey also showed 41 per cent of private and 35 per cent of community centres said they would refuse to offer 20 hours free.
Education Minister Steve Maharey said 60 per cent acceptance was an increase on the last survey, which was good news given Ms Thorne's strong stance against the policy. He was confident more would join up.
- with NZPA
