Caregivers and guardians of children who are nine months or older will have access to 15 hours of complimentary childcare each week starting Monday, as confirmed by the government.
The initiative to broaden free childcare services was unveiled by the previous Conservative administration in 2023, with the initial phase – providing 15 hours of childcare weekly for two-year-olds – launched in April of this year.
An additional enhancement, which will allow all children aged nine months to five years to qualify for 30 hours of free childcare per week, is set to be implemented in September 2025.
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Conservative officials had expressed doubts regarding whether Labour would uphold the existing plans, but the current Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson assured the public earlier this year.
In her remarks preceding the rollout, she noted: “I’ve made it clear that early childhood education is my top priority. That’s the reason we are implementing the childcare rollout which I believe will significantly support struggling parents.”
Nonetheless, apprehensions continue to be voiced regarding the sector’s ability to accommodate the influx of childcare positions — with an additional 85,000 spots required by next year to finalize the rollout.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has vowed to work “tirelessly” to guarantee sufficient places. Pic: PA
The CEO of the Early Years Alliance, Neil Leitch, stated that the spaces aren’t truly “free” as providers are compelled to cover the deficit.
“They have to impose charges for additional services, such as meals that they wouldn’t typically bill for regarding fees,” he explained to Sky News’ Alice Porter.
“They impose fees for excursions, and extras such as diapers, plus parents who do not qualify for the so-called free entitlement are also charged at a higher rate to cover the shortfall.”
Samantha Norris, area manager for the Playday Nursery in Caversham, also conveyed to Alice Porter that there are “no available spots” in childcare facilities, despite the upcoming regulations.
Area manager of the Playday Nursery in Caversham Samantha Norris is concerned about insufficient spaces for children. Pic: Sky News
“We have internal waiting lists and external waiting lists,” she mentioned. “There’s a shortage of qualified nursery staff; we’re facing challenges in recruiting them into the field — so much so that we’ve opened a second location.
“Naturally, all the parents receiving funding are turning to us for additional spots — which we simply do not have.”
However, one parent utilizing the nursery, Rhianna Kirby, expressed her approval of the rollout, stating: “This enables both my partner and me to work. [It offers us] a bit more flexibility, as it has been pretty costly without the funding.”
The education secretary admitted that the plan she had taken over from the Conservatives “poses significant implementation challenges”.
She added: “I must caution that for some parents it won’t be a simple process — while I am eager to witness children entering nursery for the first time or parents expanding their work hours, the government’s work commences now.”
Ms. Phillipson further committed that she and her team would be “working tirelessly” ahead of next September’s expansion to ensure feasibility, with preparations already underway with local authorities to tackle the areas in greatest need.
