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).
Another poster wrote that the changes could see providers "collectively opt out of funding and parents will have to pay full price for childcare”.
The vast majority of early education and care providers are open and transparent with parents about these charges, the NDNA added.
“Without them, most nurseries will struggle to remain sustainable because the government funding leaves 92% of nurseries making a loss on each place," it stated.
“The charges are necessary for the high-quality provision which give our youngest children the best start in life.
“With this approach and how it is being communicated – alongside the decision to not incorporate the National Insurance Contributions costs into the funding rates – we will see an exodus of providers.
“They will either offer fewer funded places or be forced to close.
“This will make it harder for parents to access places and these places could be more expensive, not cheaper.
“For the government to achieve its ambition to drive up standards in education they must sufficiently fund high-quality early education and care.”
