Early Years Childcare is warning that unless something is done, more providers will go out of business and there will be less choice for parents.
The provider, which has settings in Sussex, Hampshire and south east London, is concerned that the statutory guidance requiring local authorities to provide 15 hours of flexible free childcare each week to parents of three- and four-year-olds, is under-funded. This, it says, has had an impact on quality and forced some providers to pull out of the scheme altogether.
Managing director of the provider Kate Peach, said: "We support the idea but for it to be achievable, the money to fund it needs to be increased, which is unlikely because of all the cuts. Ultimately, we want the code of practice suspended and completely reviewed."
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