Although Philip Hammond's speech contained the prospect of additional support for certain groups, such as young people in custody, rough sleepers, and those struggling to get by, arguably more conspicuous was what was absent.
Earlier this week, there had been suggestions that government was set to beef up its commitment to childcare in advance of plans to provide 30 hours of free provision for three- and four-year-olds from next September, but there was no announcement on this.
The Chancellor did say childcare would be exempt from a crackdown on salary sacrifice schemes, and also said that the government will review the operation of tax-free childcare once the scheme has fully rolled out, but this did little to placate the early years sector.
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
