The study in the borough of Merton showed nearly half (48 per cent) of private and voluntary childcare providers either charge parents so-called top-up fees or reduce their own fees.
Charging parents top-up fees is forbidden under the government's code of practice on the free entitlement, which states that local authorities must guarantee a free place to all eligible children.
Free childcare for three- and four-year-olds, currently for 12 hours a week but set to be extended to 15 hours by 2010, is funded by the government's nursery education grant. However, providers say this does not meet the cost of delivering childcare and they must charge top-ups to cover costs.
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
