Nursery World - Disadvantaged children will miss out on childcare expansion plans, unless support is targeted

Government plans to increase childcare will mean that a low-income parent stands to take home just £4 an hour after childcare costs and changes to universal credit are taken into account, according to research by two major charities.

PHOTO Adobe Stock

A new joint report by Coram and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation shows the Government’s £4 billion plans to invest in childcare will disproportionately benefit families on higher incomes, unless the money is targeted to help the most disadvantaged children.

The plans revealed in the Spring Budget to increase funded childcare for working parents ‘risk entrenching an even less fair system’, and lead to many children missing out on high-quality early years education, the researchers say.

The Government is phasing in an extension to younger children of the current 30-hour entitlement for three-and four-year olds of working parents, starting with 15 hours of childcare for eligible working parents of two-year-olds in April 2024.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included