A PROPOSED charge for childcare provided before school breakfast clubs in Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) will be scrapped.
In January 2024 the council had decided to introduce a charge for the additional childcare element which is provided alongside free breakfast clubs.
The idea was that additional income generated was to be specifically allocated to schools as part of their 2024/25 budget.
But now a cabinet member decision will see the proposal rescinded.
Since the original decision of cabinet, discussions have taken place with school leaders and their trade union around respective responsibilities relating to the existing service and the decision said it was noted that the introduction of a charge would not have had any impact on existing responsibility.
The council said it has worked to introduce a digital solution to the booking management for breakfast club places.
As a result of the discussions, the implementation of the charge was deferred and it has now been decided to no longer go ahead with the proposed introduction of a charge.
As no income was to be received as a consequence of the deferral, the school budgets were adjusted accordingly and schools have now approved their budgets for this financial year.
A council spokesperson said: “Discussions were held with school leaders and trade unions about responsibilities for breakfast clubs and the introduction of a fee for additional childcare alongside these. The additional income was to be specifically provided to schools as part of their 2024/25 budget.
“However, the implementation of the fee was delayed to allow discussions to be extended. As schools have now set their budgets for this year without a fee being introduced, the council has therefore confirmed it will no longer proceed with this proposal.”
The plan had been to charge a fee of £1 per day, rounded down to £60 per term, for the additional childcare element, which is available before the start of free breakfast club provision and this would have been implemented from the start of the spring term 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.
Those accessing it up for up to three days per week only would have had to pay a term time fee of £40.
Pupils eligible for free school meals would have been exempt and parents and carers of would have only paid for the first two children of primary age living in the same household who use the service.
At the time, the council said it is facing significant financial challenges into the medium term and is considering a range of options to contribute to addressing the shortfall in funding.
But overall, 985 of people who responded to the consultation (73%) disagreed with the proposal to introduce a charge for the additional childcare element of breakfast club.
