The government announced an expansion of free childcare in the Budget - but will it actually work?
Jeremy Hunt says the childcare reforms will remove barriers to work for half a million parentsThe biggest ever public investment in childcare in England was announced in this week's Budget.
The government said in the Budget that the hourly rate it pays to local authorities for funded places for two-year-olds will rise by 30%. For three and four-year-olds, it will rise by 4%. There will be far less scope for providers to make up funding shortfalls by cross-subsiding, the Early Years Alliance explains, which could have "dire consequences for the sector".
Hourly rates are well below the average of other occupations, says Kerris Cooper, from the Education Policy Institute. This puts people off entering or remaining in the sector, she says. Nearly half of areas do not have enough available spaces for children under two, and a third don't have enough space for three and four-year-olds,So a key proposals from Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is to encourage more childminders to enter the workforce.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Jeremy Hunt defends Budget amid £1bn tax giveaway for wealthyThe Chancellor said the measures he set out will have a 'transformational' impact on the economy
Read more »
Budget 2023 live: Jeremy Hunt says tax burden will be higher for a while - BBC NewsBurden of tax 'will be higher for a while', Chancellor Jeremy Hunt tells BBC Follow live Budget reaction and analysis
Read more »
Jeremy Hunt defends speed of his childcare budget giveaway as 'biggest transformation in my lifetime'Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has defended the speed of the rollout for his budget offer of free childcare for working parents, describing it as the 'biggest transformation in childcare in my lifetime'.
Read more »
The danger points for Jeremy Hunt as Budget details and small print unravelAs the small print of Jeremy Hunt’s first Budget are analysed, cracks are starting to appear in his offerings ⚠️ eleanormia explains the danger points Budget2023
Read more »
Jeremy Hunt shares daughter's reaction to Budget as This Morning stint slammedThe duo were among the first to get to speak to the Chancellor after he unveiled his Spring Budget
Read more »