Just 23 successful applicants have received funds from a bursary scheme expected to recruit 1000 high quality candidates to become early years apprentices figures from Lucy Powell MP reveal.

The Early Years Apprenticeships Bursary Scheme, worth £1500 to applicants, was launched in September 2013. Between September (5/9/13) and November (22/11/13) just 10 people applied.

In November 2013 Ministers doubled the bursary to attract more applicants. However, figures uncovered by Lucy Powell MP show that between November 2013 and March 2014 only 38 people applied. Of the 48 total applicants, 23 were successful and have been given £69,000.

“Ministers failure to attract candidates has seen a woeful take up to this scheme. This is leaving yet more serious gaps in quality childcare provision.

 

“We know high quality affordable childcare is vital to give children the best start in life and to help parents make work pay. Yet under David Cameron we’ve seen childcare costs rocket and Ministers are failing to attract high quality apprentices to work in the early years.”

1. Detail of the original scheme

The government launched the Early Years Apprenticeships Bursary in May 2013. Applications for bursaries opened in September 2013 until August 2014 or until the bursary fund was exhausted. The government committed £2.3 million to the scheme.

 

Initially bursaries worth £1500 were to be awarded to successful applicants. In November 2013 this amount was doubled to £3000 for the first 200 applicants in an attempt to encourage more applicants. 1000 bursaries are available – 200 bursaries at £3000 and 800 bursaries at £1500. All applicants can also get £300 as part of an additional training allowance.

 

Commenting on the increased bursary Elizabeth Truss MP said:

 

 

3. FOI Data (11^th March 2014)

In February 2013 after Elizabeth Truss refused to disclose the number of applicants to the scheme Lucy Powell MP FOI’d the Department for Education with the following response.   

 

In December Elizabeth Truss refused to release application figures for the scheme despite Labour questions. As a result we submitted a Freedom of Information request to the department on 21^st February.

 

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many people applied to the early years apprenticeship bursary scheme between 5 September and 22 November 2013; how many people have applied to that scheme since 23 November 2013; how many childcare settings the National College of Teaching and Leadership has identified which are willing to take on an apprentice; and what funding has been committed to that scheme. (179861)

 

Elizabeth Truss: The early years apprenticeship bursary scheme was officially launched on 9 September 2013. The scheme runs from September 2013 to August 2014, or until all available bursaries have been awarded. £2.3 million has been committed to the scheme. Application figures will be published at the end of the scheme.

 http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm131212/text/131212w0003.htm