Service personnel based in Buckinghamshire will be the
first to trial the new offer of free ‘wraparound’ childcare
as pilots are rolled out in September to coincide with the
beginning of the academic year. Following the trials, it is
anticipated the offer will be rolled out widely in autumn
2021.
The manifesto commitment of paying for childcare for
service families, covering before and after-school during
term time for children aged 4 to 11, will ease the burden
for service parents who’re often held at readiness to be
deployed on operations at short notice.
It is the latest in a series of Ministry of Defence
(MOD) measures to
continue improving its offering as a modern and inclusive
employer, introducing maximum flexibility and support to
attract and retain the talent required by modern armed
forces, particularly women and single parents, by providing
additional support to help them accommodate the unique
demands of juggling service commitments with family life.
The MOD recently introduced
new flexible working arrangements, expanded offerings to
co-habiting couples and extended Help to Buy until the end
of 2022, giving our armed forces the chance to get a foot
on the housing ladder. This has allowed military personnel
to borrow a deposit of up to half of their annual salary,
interest free, to contribute towards buying a home, moving
house, or building an extension.
The launch of the wraparound childcare pilot comes amidst
the nation’s wider return to education, following the
disruption of the coronavirus pandemic. Service personnel
from all of our armed forces have provided critical support
to their colleagues in health and social care, often
deployed away from home at short notice. It is due to
precisely such disruptions that the MOD is seeking to provide
service families with the best possible childcare.
Defence Secretary said:
Service families are at the very heart of the armed
forces community and it is vital that we provide them
with the appropriate flexibility and freedom to bring up
their children while they serve.
I am determined to make the armed forces a more modern,
inclusive and family friendly employer, in order to
improve the working environment for retention of all
personnel but also to encourage more talented women to
pursue long, and fulfilling careers in uniform.
Defence People and Veterans Minister said:
I know from first-hand experience that while Service life
is hugely rewarding, it isn’t without its challenges when
it comes to juggling the demands of family life.
It is only right that those who continue to do
extraordinary work on behalf of the country are
recognised and rewarded, and I’m pleased we’re continuing
to honour our commitment to our hard-working personnel so
they receive the right support to care for loved ones.
RAF High Wycombe
and RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire
will be the first bases to offer the scheme, with service
personnel based in Catterick and Plymouth able to access
the pilot scheme from January 2021. Personnel at High
Wycombe and Halton will be notified shortly on further
details of the service and how to sign up and will be
engaged throughout the process.
