In his Budget on Wednesday, the Chancellor announced 30 hours of free childcare for all under-fives from the moment maternity care ends, where eligible. He said the policy will be introduced in stages to ensure there is “enough supply in the market”.
But early years leaders have voiced concerns nurseries and childminders could struggle to deliver extra places for younger children from next year if the funding provided by the Government does not meet rising costs.
The offer of free childcare for working parents will be available to those with two-year-olds from April 2024, covering around half a million parents, but it will initially be limited to 15 hours.
From September 2024, the 15-hour offer will be extended to children from nine months, helping a total of nearly a million parents, and the full 30-hour offer to all under-fives will come in from September 2025.
