The government is to spend the cash over the next three years to extend free childcare for three- and four-year-olds to 15 hours a week for 38 weeks a year, up from the current 12.5 hours a week.
But based on population estimates from the Office for National Statistics, the money will provide only £2.81 per hour for each child, significantly below the average of £3.60 an hour charged by childcare providers.
Childcare organisations told CYP Now this level of funding is not enough. Steve Alexander, chief executive of the Pre-School Learning Alliance, said: "We accept the government's financial commitment has been significant but we have been saying for a while it is not enough to deliver the 10-year childcare strategy."
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