The private nursery sector is often referred to as a mixed market economy. That's to say it allows for a level of economic freedom in the use of capital for those companies operating within it, but also enables Government to interfere in economic activities in order to achieve social aims.
With its free entitlement expansion plans launched in the Spring Budget, the Government plans to radically move its goalposts in this regard (see page 12). As the Institute of Fiscal Studies has highlighted, based on existing patterns of childcare use, the Government will double its control of the price of childcare for children in England, acquiring an 80 per cent controlling interest. Plans to offer ‘free’ care for children from nine months to four years will leave nurseries heavily reliant on Government income, like never before.
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