As CYP Now went to press, this week's social mobility white paper was expected to release more than £50m to fund free childcare for two-year-olds.
The development is in addition to the existing pilot programme offering free childcare for two- year-olds, which will this month be extended to a further 31 areas of the country, as outlined in The Children's Plan.
Since 2006, 32 local authorities have been piloting the initiative, which funds nurseries to offer up to 15 hours free care a week to children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
"The benefits of the scheme have far outweighed the challenges, and any authority coming on board should embrace it," says Karen Hingston, who managed the first-round pilot in Peterborough Council.
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