Nursery World - Family and Childcare Trust Survey: shortage of places puts 30-hour childcare in doubt

More than a third of local authorities in England say they do not have enough childcare places for three- and four-year-olds, putting the Government’s plan to offer 30 hours of free childcare in jeopardy, a major report warns.

The Family and Childcare Trust's 2016 Childcare Survey finds that local authorities are reporting that there are not enough free places in some areas for the current 15-hour entitlement, and that gaps in provision are growing.

Last year 41,300 three-year-olds did not receive any free early education, the survey reveals.

Fifty-nine local authorities say that they do not have enough places for three- and four-year-olds in their area, up from 23 in 2015.

‘In some areas there are simply not enough nursery and pre-school places available,’ the report said.

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