Childcare | LocalGov


Early intervention spending down 40% 08/04/2025 Spending on early intervention children's services has plummeted by more than 40% since the onset of austerity, research has found.
Disadvantaged children ‘priced out’ of childcare 20/03/2025 Council leaders called for a review of who is entitled to free childcare after a survey revealed disadvantaged children were ‘priced out’ of nursery places.
Childcare providers warn of cuts to funded places 13/03/2025 Nurseries, preschools and childminders face a ‘perfect storm of challenges’ amid the expansion of the Government's funded childcare scheme, survey reveals.
Government announces nursery top-up fees ban 21/02/2025 Parents using Government-funded free childcare cannot be required to pay top-up fees for items such as nappies and snacks, according to new guidance.
Labour urged to take action on child poverty 07/01/2025 The Government will need to take ‘action on multiple fronts’ to lift more children out of poverty, a think-tank has said.
Early years gets £2bn boost 10/12/2024 The early years sector is set to receive a £2bn funding boost next year as the final phase of the mass expansion of free childcare is delivered.
Children’s care based on capacity not need, commissioner warns 05/11/2024 Decisions about the care of vulnerable children are often driven by local capacity and resource rather than need, the children’s commissioner has warned.
More than £1bn to be invested in ‘crumbling’ schools 28/10/2024 The Government has confirmed that £1.4bn will be allocated in the Budget to rebuild ‘crumbling’ schools.
Sure Start Centres reduced criminal offending, says IFS 23/10/2024 Young people who had lived near a Sure Start centre between the age of 0 to 4-years-old were 20% less likely to have a custodial sentence, think-tank finds.
£15m fund launched to support childcare expansion 17/10/2024 The Government has announced a £15m funding initiative to support the creation of up to 300 new or expanded school-based nurseries across England.
Quarter of councils not ready for childcare expansion 27/08/2024 A quarter of councils lack confidence in their ability to expand Government-funded childcare support in September, Local Government Association reveals.
Summer childcare costs exceed £1,000 19/07/2024 Families will be paying an average of £1,049 for summer childcare for children aged between four and 14, a new survey has revealed.
Poll reveals support for tax increases to boost public services 01/07/2024 More than half of UK households support investment in public services even if it means they are taxed more, according to new analysis.
Councils’ confidence for childcare roll-out ‘worryingly low’ 27/06/2024 Local authorities in England have raised concerns that they will be unable to meet demand in the next phase of the expansion of free childcare.
Nearly 85,000 childcare places needed, MPs warn 29/05/2024 Around 84,500 more childcare places and 40,000 extra staff are required by September 2025 if the Government is to deliver on its childcare support plans.
Early years roll-out will get ‘significantly more challenging’ 24/04/2024 Just one in 10 councils are confident they can provide enough early years places to deliver the Government’s childcare expansion on time, a spending watchdog has warned.
Tax haven crackdown announced by childcare body 08/04/2024 The membership body for children’s homes has announced a change in its membership criteria to combat the use of tax havens by childcare providers.
Only a third of councils have enough childcare places 19/03/2024 Only a third of English councils are reporting sufficient childcare for parents working full-time, a new survey has revealed.
New £4.9m bonus scheme amid childcare expansion concerns 02/02/2024 The Government has launched a recruitment drive ahead of its free childcare expansion, but a major early years organisation has warned it will do little to boost staff numbers before rollout.
Councils raise alarm over free childcare offer 25/01/2024 Ahead of the roll-out of the expansion to free early education entitlements, councils have warned there may not be enough childcare places to meet demand.
Parents ‘set for disappointment’ over childcare expansion 08/01/2024 The Early Years Alliance has warned that while the Government’s offer of an extended childcare entitlement ‘may sound good in theory, the reality is likely to be very different’.
Wraparound childcare: what do parents want? 29/11/2023 Ellen Broomé, managing director of Coram Family and Childcare, shares what must be done to make sure families can access the provision they need.
LGA calls for Healthy Start uplift 13/11/2023 The value of the Healthy Start scheme should be increased by 20% to compensate for food inflation, the Local Government Association (LGA) has said.
Childcare expansion has ‘little to offer’ poorest families 26/09/2023 The free childcare expansion continues a trend of prioritising support for working parents rather than helping low-income families, financial experts warn.
Let renting childminders work from home, minister tells landlords 21/08/2023 Children and families minister Claire Coutinho has told developers and social landlords to allow childminders to work from rented properties.
Free childcare funding formula published 21/07/2023 The expansion of free childcare in England is set to be backed by ‘fair funding for all age groups’, the Government has announced.
First councils chosen to trial wraparound childcare 10/07/2023 The Government has selected 16 councils to begin the delivery of its wraparound childcare plans for parents of primary school aged children in England.
Childcare payments boosted by 47% 28/06/2023 Childcare payments to working families on universal credit are to increase from today by 47% in England, Scotland and Wales.
Universal Credit childcare payments to rise nearly 50% 31/05/2023 Parents on Universal Credit will be able to claim hundreds of pounds more to cover childcare costs from the end of June, the Government has announced.
Campaigners call for reform of pre-school childcare 26/05/2023 Campaigners are calling for a fundamental reform of the pre-school childcare system to make sure all children benefit.
Councils accused of holding back childcare funding 10/05/2023 Councils in England are holding back millions of pounds of funding meant for free childcare places, according to nursery leaders.
Increase UC childcare cost cap, council chiefs say 13/03/2023 Working parents should be helped with childcare costs by raising the cap on what they can claim back under Universal Credit, local government leaders say.
Chancellor to help cut the cost of childcare 13/03/2023 The Government will help cut the cost of childcare in Wednesday's budget as part of a drive to assist people into work, chancellor Jeremy Hunt has said.
Half of local areas report affordable childcare shortage 09/03/2023 Only half of local areas have sufficient childcare for children under two, a new survey published today has revealed.
Childcare pressures putting families ‘at risk’ 31/01/2023 The cost-of-living crisis is forcing childcare providers to increase their prices and reduce their staff numbers, a new survey has revealed.
Childcare offer ‘complex, patchy and costly’, think tank says 22/09/2022 A think tank has called for a radical overhaul of childcare as research finds that the cost of childcare is forcing new parents to pay to return to work.
Scottish nurseries face financial ‘uncertainty’ 12/08/2022 Nurseries across Scotland have urged councils to make a decision on the hourly rates they will pay to early learning and childcare providers.
Only a quarter of local authorities have enough holiday childcare this summer 19/07/2022 Just over a quarter (27%) of local authorities in England have enough holiday childcare available to meet the demand of parents working full-time in their area, new research has shown today.
Slash ‘red tape’ to reduce childcare costs, think tank says 16/05/2022 Government should reduce the amount of regulation governing childcare in order to reduce the economic impact of high childcare costs, think tank says.
Cost of nursery up £1,500 04/04/2022 The average family now spends nearly £1,500 more on a nursery place than five years ago, an analysis by Labour has revealed.
Survey reveals drop in the availability of childcare places 22/03/2022 An increasing number of local authorities are warning they do not have enough childcare places available, a new survey has revealed.
Report hits out at 'dysfunctional' early childhood care system 20/10/2021 Early education and childcare is a 'dysfunctional system' that needs a radical re-think, a report has concluded today.
MPs call for post-COVID recovery strategy for new parents 07/10/2021 MPs have called on Government to publish a COVID-19 recovery strategy for new parents which should include a fund to help councils arrange in-person visits.
Disadvantaged children ‘locked out’ of early years opportunities 19/08/2021 Research suggests Government’s policy of 30 hours of funded childcare for working parents has widened the gap between disadvantaged children and their peers.
Councils concerned about future of childcare 29/07/2021 Local support for children and families during the pandemic has been wide-ranging but there have also been notable local variations, new study reveals.
A third of councils report fall in holiday childcare places 20/07/2021 A third of all local authorities have reported a decrease in the number of holiday childcare places available in their area, according to a new survey.
Childcare crisis deepened by pandemic, study reveals 01/07/2021 The availability and affordability crisis in childcare is being exacerbated by the pandemic and subsequent childcare closures, warns a gender equality group.
Ministers 'knew early years was underfunded' argues charity 15/06/2021 The Government has been accused of knowingly under-funding local authorities on 'free childcare' places by the Early Years Alliance.
A third of councils see closure of childcare providers 09/03/2021 Over a third (35%) of local authorities in England have seen a rise in the number of childcare providers permanently closing down in the last year, according to an annual survey.
Councils urged to check 'free must mean free' on nursery places 28/01/2021 The ombudsman has urged councils to ensure nurseries in their areas really are providing free early years places.
Councils anticipate ‘permanent closure’ of childcare providers 22/12/2020 Over half of local authorities in England anticipate the permanent closure of childcare providers after COVID funding ends, a childcare charity has found.
Calls to invest £240m in early years provision 30/10/2020 A quarter of early years providers in the most deprived local authorities could close by Christmas without additional funding, a new survey has revealed.
Think tank calls for a 'family stimulus' boost 28/10/2020 A 'family stimulus' would help support hard-hit families through the pandemic, a new report has said.
Counties warn childcare closures will hit remote areas the hardest 25/09/2020 One in ten childcare providers in England’s most remote areas are at risk of closure this winter, county councils have warned today.
Informal childcare exempt from local lockdown rules 22/09/2020 Councils have welcomed the announcement that informal childcare and other caring arrangements will be exempt from local lockdown restrictions.
Early years’ workers ‘overworked and undervalued’, study reveals 05/08/2020 Low pay, a high workload and a lack of career development for early years’ workers risk impacting on the provision of care and education services for the under-fives, report says.
Call to 'supercharge' early years services 17/07/2020 Early years services are failing to target the children that most need support, a report has warned today.
Report warns childcare sector at risk of mass closure 25/06/2020 A quarter of early years providers warn they expect to close within the year due to the impact of coronavirus, a new survey has revealed.
Majority of childcare providers have fears over re-opening safely, survey reveals 29/05/2020 Only 13% of early years childcare providers are confident about opening their doors from next week, a new survey has revealed.
Councils given power to reallocate free childcare funding 24/04/2020 Councils have been given the freedom to move government funding for free childcare entitlements to meet demand during the coronavirus outbreak.
Disadvantaged children less likely to benefit from free childcare, auditors warn 13/03/2020 Disadvantaged families are less likely to take up free early education and childcare places, auditors have warned today.
Parents face ‘postcode lottery’ for expensive childcare, survey reveals 26/02/2020 Parents are paying 5% more for childcare for the under-twos than they were one year ago, according to an annual survey of childcare costs.
Tories promise cash boost for infrastructure and skills 25/11/2019 A Conservative Government would deliver record investments in infrastructure, childcare and skills, according to the party’s manifesto.
Councils receive free childcare funding boost 31/10/2019 Councils offering 15 hours free childcare for disadvantaged two-year-olds will receive an increase in their hourly funding, the Government has confirmed today.
Parents’ childcare bills set to double over summer 16/07/2019 Working parents could face a childcare bill of up to £800 during the summer holiday - more than double the cost of term time childcare, a children’s charity has warned.
London parents 'locked out' of work due to rising childcare costs 06/06/2019 Nearly two in three local authorities in London do not have enough childcare to meet the demand from parents of school-age children, new research has revealed.
More men needed in early years education, minister says 24/04/2019 The Government has launched a new project designed to encourage more men to work in early years education.
Northants apologises for underpaying childminders 08/03/2019 Northamptonshire County Council has apologised ‘unreservedly’ for underpaying childminders and nurseries by thousands of pounds.
Childcare funding ‘insufficient’, council chiefs warn 28/02/2019 Government funding for nursery school places often fails to cover the costs for those providing the care, local authority leaders have warned.
Early years workers ‘struggling financially' 17/01/2019 Childcare workers are struggling financially and many are forced to claim state benefits, an education think tank has found.
Parents support 30 hour childcare scheme despite underfunding 12/09/2018 Over 80% of surveyed parents said their children were better prepared to start school due to the 30 hours free childcare scheme, despite concerns over funding.
Parents ‘struggling’ with childcare costs, TUC warns 03/09/2018 Working parents with children under five have seen nursery fees increase three times faster than their wages over the past decade, trades unions have revealed.
Foster parents to receive free childcare 22/06/2018 Foster parents will have access to the government’s 30 hours free childcare offer for the first time from September.
Whitehall’s free childcare policy ‘crippling’ nurseries 20/06/2018 Nurseries are calling on the Government to ‘wake up’ as a new survey reveals the spiralling costs of their flagship free childcare policy.
Council websites making ‘progress’ in presentation about childcare on mobiles 18/05/2018 Local authority websites have shown ‘progress’ in the presentation of information and services on mobile devices about children's services, ICT body reveals.
Whitehall figures on childcare funding ‘misleading’, MPs say 26/03/2018 MPs have called on the Government to pay a higher hourly rate to local authorities for the 30-hours free childcare scheme.
Research highlights lack of male staff in council nurseries 15/03/2018 New figures have revealed that only 5% of staff in the Early Years sector are male, leading to calls to 'widen the talent pool'.
Price ‘surge’ undermines childcare policies 28/02/2018 A surge in the price of childcare is undermining the Government’s investment in support schemes to help people get access to childcare services, trust finds.
Campaigners warn council nurseries are not open long enough for working parents 20/02/2018 Nine out of ten council nurseries in Scotland are not providing cover for ‘normal’ working hours, new research has claimed today.
Cost of childcare has risen four times faster than wages, research finds 20/10/2017 The cost of childcare for the youngest children has risen four times faster than wages since 2008, according to the TUC.
Gov’s free childcare policy undermines social mobility, report says 28/09/2017 The Government’s free childcare policy could undermine social mobility by widening the gap in school readiness between disadvantaged children and their more advantaged peers, social mobility experts say.
Nursery staff facing pay cuts over free childcare rollout says think tank 04/09/2017 The Government’s new 30-hours free childcare scheme is so underfunded that nurseries would have to pay their staff below the minimum wage to make it work, according to new research.
Weekly cost of childcare has risen by over 50%, opposition says 26/07/2017 The Government is ‘failing working parents’, Labour says as analysis reveals the cost of childcare has risen dramatically since 2010.
Summer holiday brings nearly £3bn in childcare bills, report finds 20/07/2017 Parents are facing a nearly £3bn childcare bill this summer and will be forced to either pay or lose wages by taking time-off, research reveals.
Nurseries warn it's 'crunch time' for free childcare funding 30/06/2017 Nurseries will only a receive an ‘inadequate’ increase of 40p per hour in order to provide 30 hours of free childcare, new research has revealed.
Rise in business rates will threaten nurseries, warns committee 21/06/2017 A Scottish parliamentary committee will write to local authorities and the Scottish Government about pressure childcare organisations are facing over increased business rates.
Parties should adopt Childcare Passport plan, nurseries say 16/05/2017 Nurseries are calling on all of the major political parties to include in their manifestos a ‘radical’ new passport scheme to simplify childcare funding.
Whitehall’s 30 hours free childcare policy ‘in danger’ as nurseries opt out 18/04/2017 The Government's promise to provide parents with 30 free hours of childcare is in danger as daycare nurseries opt out leaving 50,000 children without places.
Whitehall’s free childcare policy to receive extra £55m boost 11/04/2017 The Government has unlocked £55m of investment as a boost to their flagship childcare scheme.
Thousands of nursery workers paid ‘illegal poverty wages’, study reveals 17/03/2017 One in 10 nursery workers are being paid below the minimum wage despite nurseries benefitting from Government subsidies, new analysis reveals.
Parents shut out of workplace by ‘crippling childcare costs’ 02/03/2017 Parents are spending over £6,000 a year – double what families spend on food and drink annually – for a part-time nursery place, child care charity reports.
Free childcare could put quality at risk warn councils 08/02/2017 Councils have warned that the extension of free childcare could put quality and availability of services at risk, a new survey has revealed.
Whitehall should ‘abolish’ free childcare, think tank says 06/02/2017 The Government should abolish universal free childcare and directly target support at the most disadvantaged families, free-market think tank argues.
Families with disabled children ‘left in dark’ about childcare 26/01/2017 Families with disabled children are frequently ‘left in the dark’ when it comes to childcare due to a lack of information from local authorities, charity finds.
Government announces £50m grant to fund free childcare 10/01/2017 The education secretary today announced a £50m grant will be made available to support the delivery of the Government’s 30 hours free childcare offer.
Oxfordshire CC to waive children's centres' rents for one year 22/12/2016 Oxfordshire CC has agreed to waive the rents of children's centres run by community groups for up to a year if they face closure.
Government ‘complacent’ over child protection issues warn MPs 16/12/2016 The Government has been accused of being too slow to improve child protection services, a report from MPs has warned today.
New funding for free childcare falls ‘woefully short’ 02/12/2016 Councils have welcomed proposals to increase hourly rate for providers delivering 15 hours of free childcare—but are concerned it will not be ‘sufficient’.
Quality of early years provision at risk due to reforms 28/09/2016 The quality of early years provision could be put at risk due to government funding reforms, new research has warned.
30 hours free childcare plans ‘doomed’ without proper funding 22/09/2016 Government plans to offer 30 hours free childcare ‘doomed’ without proper funding because nurseries would be forced to close down, warns school union.