Figures released by the Department for Education (DfE) show that of the capital’s 44,762 eligible two-year-olds, only 22,579 are receiving 15 hours of free childcare per week, six months after the free entitlement was expanded.
The government has called on councils in the capital to do more to encourage eligible parents to take up the free entitlement offer, and has named authorities with the lowest take-up rates (see table below).
The disappointing figures are the latest blow to the government's free childcare policy. Last November, analysis by the Pre-school Learning Alliance showed there was a £200m funding shortfall between the amount allocated to the scheme by government and the cost to childcare companies of providing places.
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