English Nurseries Charging Extra Fees to Cover Funding Gap

The Growing Burden of Extra Charges

Parents of nursery children in England are being charged extra fees to cover for government underfunding of free childcare hours. Some parents are paying thousands of pounds a year for consumables such as food, wipes, and nappies.

The Government's Funding Shortfall

Eligible working parents in England can get 30 hours a week of free childcare for children aged between nine months and four years old. However, the Department for Education has said that "too many" parents have reported being asked to pay more to secure a funded place.

The Financial Impact on Parents

According to a survey conducted in May and June last year, nearly three-quarters of parents whose children were attending formal childcare reported having to pay for extras. One parent reported being charged as much as £16 a day – amounting to thousands of pounds a year for a child in nursery full-time.

The Call for Investigation

The Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, has asked the Competition and Markets Authority to investigate hidden extra charges that parents have encountered when trying to access government-funded childcare. The authority has welcomed the request and will be developing a specific proposal to put to its board.

The Future of Childcare in England

The government has recently launched a digital map of providers in Bristol, south Gloucestershire, Bath, and north-east Somerset, which is due to be rolled out countrywide later in the year. The tool aims to make accessing childcare simpler for families.