
Campaigners have previously argued that the £300 premium is unlikely to be enough to convince popular settings to "reach out" to disadvantaged children.
But in its response to a consultation on the new payment, the government said funding for local authorities during 2015/16 will remain at £300 per child – a total of £50m overall.
The government has said that seven areas – Blackpool, Bristol, Cambridgeshire, Hackney, North Yorkshire, Stoke, and another authority yet to be announced – will share £1m to trial the new support ahead of its introduction nationwide next April.
Liz Bayram, chief executive at the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years said the £300 premium is equivalent to just 53p per hour per child.
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