“Free must mean free” when it comes to local authority funded childcare, the local government and social care ombudsman (LGO) says in a rebuke to Leicestershire County Council after it emerged a nursery chain was charging a “top-up” fee to parents eligible for free childcare.
The report comes despite data from the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) showing a combined £55m underspend on such childcare entitlement across all councils in England.
As the early years sector faces a huge funding crisis exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, experts lament a lack of government funding and put forward solutions to prevent mass closures in the coming 12 months.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
