Labour state families will now lose out on free childcare
The whole promise of the free childcare is in a complete mess, this will leave at least a third of families losing out to free childcare.
Working Families were promised the free childcare would increase from 15 hrs to 30hrs to help support their childcare needs. This promise is now causing a huge financial issue leading to millions of pounds.
The figures released are starting that it amounts to a shortfall of up to £470 for every child each year.
In the run up to the elections over 630,000 children were expected to be eligible for the free childcare. During the budget this dropped to 390,000, however there is no wonder there are financial difficulties arising.
Shadow education secretary Lucy Powell said: “The Government’s childcare plans are in complete chaos. One in three working parents promised free childcare by David Cameron at the last election will now miss out because ministers are unable to make the funding for their manifesto childcare pledge add up.
“Their back of a fag-packet calculations mean that many families who thought they would get more help with childcare will receive none and despite reducing eligibility by 200,000 families, the Government still has a half a billion black hole in their plans.
Where will this leave families is the question? And there is no strategy in place to deal with this chaos
Childcare minister Sam Gyimah said: “This Government is doing more than any other to support working families. Doubling the entitlement to free childcare is a key part of this.
“Suggesting our commitment is underfunded is nonsense. We are the only party who promised to increase the funding rate paid to providers – we are delivering on this through an additional £300 million to the hourly rate.
For families eligible all they can do is wait and see what happens.