An ambitious expansion in free childcare for working parents may not represent value for money, and could undermine wider socio-economic objectives, the national spending watchdog has warned.
Ambitious plans to expand early learning and childcare in Scotland could be undermined by risks around infrastructure and workforce, auditors have warned.
Scotland’s Auditor General and the Accounts Commission are embarking on a major audit of the country’s early learning and childcare system to understand the impact of expanding services.
The current focus on childcare entitlement can hold back toddlers from the poorest homes, says the chief executive of the Education Endowment Foundation Sir Kevan Collins.
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.
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.
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 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.
Universal Credit is intended to simplify out-of-work benefits and in-work credits, but in its present form it could make things more complicated for many of those it is meant to assist.
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...
A Conservative government would double the amount of free childcare available for three- and four-year-olds from 15 hours to 30, David Cameron announced.
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
