Nursery World - Expanded offer 'ambitious' against background of uncertainty around costs and benefits

A damning report highlights how the expanded offer was rushed with dates for the rollout being set by the Government without understanding capacity, and opportunities to pilot the ‘ambitious’ policy cancelled.

The NAO report highlights how the DfE set out a timetable for the expansion without knowing whether there would be enough capacity, PHOTO: Adobe Stock

The report by the National Audit Office, published today (24 April), argues that the Government’s timetable for the expanded offer is ‘ambitious’ and set amid ‘significant uncertainty around feasibility, costs and benefits’.

The NAO, an independent body which scrutinises public spending for Parliament, highlights issues with the planning and delivery of the programme, including the Department for Education’s inability to consult with the sector ahead of the announcement of the expanded offer due to restrictions on Budget announcements.

It also says that the DfE set dates for the rollout of the hours without understanding local authorities’ and providers’ capacity and capability to deliver an ‘unprecedented’ level of growth in the workforce and new places. It had just 13 months from the announcement of the expanded offer to prepare for rollout.

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