Parents angry that some kids miss out on free preschooling

By ANNE-MARIE EMERSON
Some Wanganui parents are angry their children will not benefit from the Government's 20 hours free scheme, which came into effect on July 1.
Around 800 Wanganui three and four year olds are now receiving free early childhood education through the scheme, which aims to remove cost barriers to early childhood education.
Kindergartens, preschools, childcare centres and kohanga reo must opt into the scheme, and not all centres are eligible.
In Wanganui, 23 centres have so far taken up the scheme. Adam Kerse's four-year-old daughter spends 20 hours a week at Wanganui Montessori, which has not taken up the scheme. Mr Kerse said he is "absolutely 100 percent pissed off" at Montessori's decision.
"This is given by the Government as a free service for parents and we're not getting it."
Mr Kerse said he was told by Montessori that the reason the centre was not taking up the scheme was because they "didn't have enough information to make a decision".
"It seems like they've just been caught with their pants down."
Mr Kerse said that, despite his concerns, his daughter would continue to attend Montessori.
"I like the education style of Montessori, and I like what they've done for my daughter."
The president of Wanganui Montessori Association, Rob Sewell, said he understood the concerns of some parents, but the decision was a financial one.
"This scheme is only for three and four-year-olds. "We're a small centre. We've got about 37 kids, and almost all of them are three or four. So we don't pick up funding from the younger children."
Mr Sewell said 50 percent of the centre's funding came from government and 50 percent from fees.
"Costs are going up all the time, but if we took the 20 hours free it would be illegal for us to charge compulsory fees.
"So we'd be taking a step back in funding, and we'd lose the ability to recover costs through fees."
However, he said the decision would be reviewed in September.
"I have every confidence we can put something together that can satisfy the official requirements as well as dealing with our funding issue."
Marie Weeks has mixed feelings about the 20 hours scheme. Her four-year-old son attends Happy Days preschool two afternoons a week.
Miss Weeks said she was initially told she would be able to send her son to preschool for 20 hours free.
"So I decided to enrol him for four afternoons instead of two. But about a month ago I was told it wouldn't be free, that there'd be an 'optional' charge of $1.75 an hour."
Miss Weeks had been paying $18 a week with a Work and Income subsidy when her son was attending two afternoons a week. For four afternoons a week she would now pay just under $35 a week.
"If that was at full price, it would be $100, so we're still saving money.
"I'm a bit disappointed, but it's worthwhile, really, for the good quality education my son is getting."
Parents whose children are receiving 20 hours free were positive about the scheme.
Sue McGahey, the manager of Funhouse Learning Centre, which looks after 30 children a day, said about 20 of their children were entitled to 20 free hours.
She said the scheme was working well so far, and the parents were very enthusiastic.
"It especially benefits our low-income families." Jo Dryden's four-year-old boy attends Funhouse for 40 hours a week. She said the 20 hours free amounted to "a big saving for us".
"We were paying $180 a week, now we're paying $100. "I think it's a great idea."