Free childcare scheme ‘forces nurseries to shut’

The Government’s flagship free childcare scheme is already leading to nursery closures across the country.

This September, all working parents who earn less than £100,000 per year each will be eligible for 30 hours’ free childcare a week – double the 15 hours they are currently entitled to.

But leaders of the nursery school sector say this will leave many facing closure, because the rate the Government offers is 39p below the actual hourly cost of childcare.

Nurseries can make up for the shortfall in the Government rate by charging parents more for the rest of the time, but many do not need more than 30 hours a week of childcare.