LOCAL childminder Sylvia Tinnion has backed government plans to lower the childcare age - but has called for more funding as living costs remain high.

The Hayton-based childminder, who ended her 30-year wait for an 'outstanding' Ofsted rating last month, gave her thoughts on the childcare plans announced this week by Jeremy Hunt as part of his spring budget.

In these plans, it was confirmed that 30 hours of free childcare for every child over the age of nine months will be available by September 2025.

Whilst Sylvia is pleased with the plans, she expressed her belief that more should be done - and sooner - to help parents.

She said: "I am pleased they are going to lower the age, that is one thing that I am pleased about because I have said I can't understand why they have never lowered the age for children to get help with childcare.

"There are a lot of parents out there struggling and needing to go back to work.

"The more help parents can get the better."

Sylvia also called for the government to up funding for childminders who are also having to increase prices to cope with the cost-of-living crisis.

She said: "Hopefully they will put the funding up for us guys.

"We are having to put our rates up to cover electric, the gas.

"Everyone is struggling, I am trying to keep my rates low, I do try but mine are going up to cover things, the gas and the electric are just unbelievable, we have to keep our houses warm."

In addition, the spring budget confirmed that, from the autumn, the government would be offering 'incentive payments' to new childminders.

Off the back of this news, Sylvia encouraged more people to take up the profession.

She said: "I think childminding is a really lovely job to do. You are your own boss, you can decide what curriculum you are going to do each day and it is one of the most rewarding jobs, from having babies and watching them grow with you, develop and move on.

"A lot of my little ones who are in their 20s and 30s remember me and go on about things they did when they were with me so it is a lovely profession to go into, but it is hard work.

"We need more childminders."