Councils offering 15 hours free childcare for disadvantaged two-year-olds will receive an increase in their hourly funding, the Government has confirmed today.

Most councils providing 30 hours free for working parents of three and four-year-olds will also receive an increase in the hourly rate.

Education secretary Gavin Williamson said the increase will mean no local authority will receive less than £4.38 per hour per child for three and four year olds.

Mr Williamson said: 'A child’s early education is crucial to their future success which is why we are increasing our hourly funding rates for councils so that they can continue to deliver high quality and free childcare places.'

The Government also announced today that additional funding will be provided to local authorities in 2020-21 to enable them to fund maintained nursery schools at higher rates.