Nursery World - Parents warned they could struggle to find a funded place under new Govt offer

Early years providers are unsure whether they will offer the funded places for one and two-year-olds, while many that plan to will limit the number that are available, reveal new survey findings.

The survey highlights concerns among the sector that settings won't be able to meet increased demand for the extended 15 and 30 hours of early education, PHOTO: Adobe Stock

The survey of 803 providers by the Early Years Alliance (EYA) reveals that of the 96 per cent who currently offer non-funded two-year-old places, a third (33 per cent) are unsure whether they will deliver the Government’s expanded entitlement for the age group.

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One in five (20 per cent) plan to offer a limited number of places under the expanded offer and charge privately for the rest.

Of the 54 per cent of providers who currently offer non-funded places for one-year-olds, two in five (40 per cent) are undecided as to whether they will deliver the new offer.

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