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Minister urges local authorities to boost affordable childcare

Policy & Politics Provision
Elizabeth Truss has written to councils in England to encourage them to talk to existing childcare providers, including schools, about how they could provide more affordable and flexible childcare.

The minister lists a number of ways local authorities can do this, by suggesting, for example, that school nurseries open longer from 8am to 6pm and offer the 15 hours more flexibly.

The Government is also changing the law so that school nurseries can take two-year-olds without registering separately.

In the letter Ms Truss says that the Department for Education can provide models of how school nurseries can do this to ‘generate income for the school and provide parents with more affordable childcare.’

The minister also asks local authorities how they are supporting childminders, whether there are plans to introduce childminder agencies in their area, and whether resources are being used in the best way for residents.

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