The UK government’s ambitious plan to expand funded childcare for working parents may be in jeopardy, according to the National Audit Office (NAO). Following the decision to scrap a £35m pilot in selected areas, there is now “significant” uncertainty as to how the national rollout will be achieved. The programme is expected to cost £15.2bn over the next three years, and the NAO recommends that the DfE should continuously monitor the situation for any concerns regarding staffing or capacity.
The rollout began earlier in September and allows working parents to have up to 30 hours of free childcare for their three and four-year-old children during term time. Official estimates suggest that by September 2025, as many as 85,000 more childcare places and 40,000 more staff will be needed to make the programme sustainable. However, the government has faced criticism for cancelling early testing plans for the scheme, which would have established its viability, on account of the cost involved.
According to the head of the NAO, Gareth Davies, the decision to cancel the pilot has “exacerbated the significant uncertainty about the sector’s capacity and financial sustainability”. Meanwhile, Alison Vickers, a nursery manager in Sheffield, has outlined the difficulties she faces, as it is becoming increasingly difficult to recruit and retain staff. In contrast, the government has stated that almost 200,000 two-year-olds have already benefited from government-funded places, which were made available from April this year.
The NAO report highlighted concerns about the potential impact of the expansion, particularly with regard to the increased attainment gap between children from affluent and disadvantaged backgrounds, the displacement of those children who may require more challenging support, and the quality of childcare staff. Currently, the DfE has not yet determined the impact of the free hours programme on place availability or quality.
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