Some local authorities have yet to confirm funding for childcare providers to deliver on the government’s promised expansion, education secretary Gillian Keegan has said.
Rishi Sunak previously admitted that his pledge to expand free childcare in England has hit trouble, as ministers scramble to get a grip on the roll-out ahead of an April deadline.
As first revealed by The Independent in December, there are major problems with funding, staff shortages and nursery closures.
Ms Keegan admitted she cannot guarantee the pledge to provide more free hours – but said she is leaning on councils in England “very hard” to publish funding rates ahead.
“The vast majority of them have already – but there’s a small number that haven’t and this is causing a bit of friction in the system. I am leaning on them very, very hard,” she told LBC.
Childcare providers have reported being unable to commit to offering places for parents of two-year-olds in April, as they remain in the dark about final funding rates.
