CYP Now - Training Guide Early Years

Expansion of funded childcare places for working families is being phased in under former Conservative government plans.

The petition condemns the proposed relaxation of childcare ratios. Picture: AdobeStock

The government has launched a recruitment plan for the early years

By September 2025, working families with a child aged at least nine months will be entitled to 30 hours of support.

But nine in 10 councils are not sure there will be enough places in their area to meet demand during the final phase of the roll out in 2025, found a survey published by the charity Coram in June.

This expansion comes as early years providers face challenges recruiting and retaining staff amid ongoing concerns about low pay and lack of funding in the sector.

Vacancies are now more than double pre-Covid levels, according to the Recruitment and Employment Federation’s Labour Market Tracker for this year.

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