Lots of two-year-olds are still missing out on free childcare
It is believed hundreds of two years olds are still missing out on free childcare in Stoke on Trent, figures revealed that seven out of the children that are eligible are only accessing the free government funded place.
The government scheme of 15hrs free childcare per week for two-year-olds has been up and running for four years. In order for children to access this government scheme, parents must be in receipt of certain benefits such as jobseekers allowance or income support for more information on eligibility criteria click here
Since the introduction of the 15hours free childcare for 2 years olds the number of children accessing the scheme has risen, in 2015 59 per cent of parents in Stoke on Trent took advantage of the free hours, in 2016 this rose to 65 per cent and this year 69 per cent of children accessed the 15hours free childcare.
It is however suggested that the number of two-year-olds claiming their 15hours for free childcare falls short of the number of 3 and 4-year-olds claiming government funded education. Could this mean some parents may not be fully aware of the free childcare scheme that is available for toddlers?