According to Labour’s platform, it is the first step in the government’s plan to “upgrade space” in primary schools in order to open an additional 3,000 nurseries in England.
According to the Department for Education (DfE), schools can apply for up to £150,000 to assist in the establishment of the 300 new or expanded nurseries under this phase of the plan.
Additionally, the declaration pledged to address reports of parents having to pay “very high additional charges” to receive government-funded childcare.
Prior to the complete implementation of 30 hours of free childcare, parents with children aged nine months to two years had access to 15 hours since August.
However, early childhood advocates have cautioned that the facilities are not free, as nurseries are being forced to impose additional fees for items like diapers, lunches, and excursions due to financial constraints.
In order to better assist local authorities in protecting parents from overcharging, the government said that it will be interacting with providers and local authorities to elucidate statutory advice on charging, notably with so-called “top-up fees.”
