Research commissioned by the Pre-school Learning Alliance has found that the number of children currently meeting the eligibility criteria for the 30 hour offer, which comes into effect in September, is 478,000 - 23 per cent higher than the government's estimate of 390,000.
The study, conducted by independent research agency Ceeda, estimates a further 22,000 children on top of this could become eligible for the offer if parents in working households make relatively small changes to their work patterns, bringing total eligibility to around 500,000 overall - 28% higher than the government's estimate.
On the back of the findings, which were based on a survey of 1,708 households, the Pre-school Learning Alliance has warned that tens of thousands of parents could miss out on the 30-hour funded childcare offer due to a lack of available 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
