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DfE 'cheaper childcare' campaign angers providers

1 min read Early years education
The Department for Education has caused anger among nurseries and parents over a social media post promoting policy changes that it claims will deliver “cheaper childcare”.
The DfE's campaign claims to be rooting out childcare providers' overcharging. Picture: Facebook

The DfE’s campaign - which highlights “action to prevent overcharging” by providers - accompanies new guidance for settings on the funded childcare entitlement.

The new guidance states that the government funding “…is not intended to cover the costs of meals, other consumables, additional hours or additional services”.

The DfE's campaign has attracted hundreds of comments on Facebook - many of which are critical of the post, with one branding it as "propaganda". 

Early years sector bodies have already warned that the guidance, published on 21 February, threatens nurseries' survival by taking away their flexibility to charge for consumables.

This restriction may have unintended consequences, including closures or settings refusing to offer the funded entitlement, said a press statement from the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA).

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