Charities fear children will be left open to “neglect and abuse” as local authorities have drastically cut their spending on children’s centres in England over the past five years.
More than £1bn is to be invested annually in early learning and childcare across Scotland under a landmark deal struck between councils and the Scottish Government.
Early years providers in England are struggling to provide the promised 30 hours of free child care because of “insufficient” funding, a survey has found.
The government has underestimated the number of Sure Start centre closures in England by half, the Sutton Trust has claimed in research released today.
MPs are to scrutinise how affordable childcare could boost the economy, in response to concerns that lack of access to services is stopping parents from being able to work.
Only a tiny proportion of the extra £9.1bn allocated by the government for early years provision will reach the most disadvantaged children, a report for the Social Market Foundation has...
The Labour party has promised to extend 30 hours of free childcare per week to all two to four-year-olds, as part of their £5bn investment in childcare.
Government plans to extend free childcare to 30 hours for three and four year olds should be scrapped in favour of a cheaper targeted approach to help poorer families, according to the Localis think-...
A Scottish Government report has accused the country’s councils of diverting millions of pounds of central government money away from supporting delivery of ministers’ free childcare pledge.
Labour has launched a childcare taskforce that will consider new policy proposals to provide affordable, high-quality childcare fit for the 21st century in order to help parents get into work.
The government’s pledge to provide 30 hours of free childcare for working families next year may not be met because of lack of capacity in the provider market, the Public Accounts Committee has...
The Department for Education is unable to track the effectiveness of £2.7bn being spent on a flagship free childcare programme, according to a report by the National Audit Office.
Six councils from across England are to be given £13m to pilot the government’s extension of free childcare for three- and four-year-olds later this year, ministers have announced.
Government plans to double the amount of free childcare available for three- and four-year-old children could be underfunded by as much as £1bn, according to a analysis by the Institute for...
Councils and other providers are being asked to come forward with “innovative and flexible” ideas on how they can deliver 30 hours of free childcare a week, which will take effect in September 2016.
The development of poorer children in early years education remains behind those whose families are better off, despite overall improvements in quality, Ofsted has concluded.
Prime Minister David Cameron is bringing forward plans to double free childcare offered to working parents from 15 hours to 30 hours per week and pledged to review funding for the scheme before the...
Many councils are struggling to protect vulnerable children amid funding pressures and increasing public scrutiny on social care services following failures in places such as Rotherham, an analysis...
The expected announcement by the chancellor in today's Budget on extra support for childcare costs is welcome. But we must not lose sight of the quality issues
Childcare is edging its way up the political agenda, with all parties making offers on improved support. But they miss the point about the quality of care, pay in the sector and universal need
