in England is about to become real. From September, after three years in
the planning, the 20 per cent most disadvantaged two-year-olds will be
eligible for 15 hours of free childcare a week.
From the start, debate has raged over the viability of the whole enterprise. There remain very valid concerns about the rather paltry funding of £5.09 an hour for providers; the sustainability of settings; the availability of sufficient space to accommodate toddlers; the need for a sufficiently skilled workforce; and the challenge of publicising the offer to eligible families (see p12). But all this must not detract from the fact that this is a policy, supported by all political parties, that promises to deliver on the fundamental mantra to give all children, regardless of background, the best chance in life.
The free childcare challenge of September 2013 pales in comparison with what lies ahead in September 2014, when the number of those eligible will double from 130,000 to 260,000 little people. The fun has just begun. ravi.chandiramani@markallengroup.com
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