A top-up payment scheme and tax relief for nurseries are among measures Conservative MPs would like to see in the Autumn Statement to support the government’s extension of free childcare hours from next year.
Earlier this year, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt promised a new childcare package that will see 30 hours a week of free childcare extended to children aged between nine months and school age.
However, new research by the Early Education and Childcare Coalition and the University of Leeds, published by The Guardian earlier this week, found that 57 per cent of nursery staff are considering quitting the sector within the next year, which could lead to a major staffing crisis alongside an expectation to increase places.
The same study found that few nursery managers are confident they will be able to accommodate the extended free hours without government support. Only 17 per cent of managers who responded to the researchers said it was likely they would increase the total number of places they offered as a result of the extended hours, while 35 per cent thought it was likely they would place limits on the number of places they offer funded by free hours entitlement.
