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.
From September, children from nine months old in England will be eligible for 15 free hours a week until they start school, but almost six in 10 councils (59%) are either not confident or not sure they will have enough places to meet demand, research by Coram Family and Childcare (CFC) found.
The charity said that with just two months until the expansion, the figure was ‘worryingly low’.
Just 11% of councils said they were confident they would have enough spaces when the offer is expanded to 30 free hours in September 2025.
Most local authorities said their biggest concern was the workforce, and half (53%) said staffing had been a barrier to delivering the first phase of the expansion, which began in April.
Around half of councils (52%) said the first phase had seen all or almost all eligible parents in their area who wanted to take up the new entitlements able to do so.
CFC managing director Ellen Broomé said: ‘No child should miss out on the early years education they need to thrive, and all parents should be able to make meaningful decisions about work and care.
‘We want the next government to commit to the necessary reforms to make this a reality.’
