Under the scheme, launched by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg in September, parents of England’s 130,000 most disadvantaged two-year-olds are able to claim 15 hours of free childcare from a local provider.
However, childcare minister Elizabeth Truss revealed that free childcare places were taken up for just 92,000 children a month after the launch.
Despite the government falling short of its target, Truss welcomed the results as a “tremendous achievement”.
She said: “We know that high-quality early education can make a positive contribution to a child’s future success, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
“After just four weeks, it is fantastic to see that 92,000 two-year-olds are now benefitting from these places.”
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
