The Early Implementer evaluation, published today by the Department for Education, finds overall that a high proportion of providers in the eight local authority areas trialling the 30 hours of funded childcare were willing and able to offer the extended hours, and there was ‘no evidence’ that financial implications were a substantial barrier to the delivery.
However, the evaluation does acknowledge that funding rates will be different in the national roll-out and there will be no obligation for local authorities to offer extra support.
Other limitations it says include ‘partial implementation’ of the policy in seven of the eight areas, which were also chosen for their good track records, and starting the trials at the ‘most favourable’ time of the year in terms of spare capacity.
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