Fears Norfolk nurseries 'will struggle' with free childcare

Mother Rosie Wright is worried some nurseries will struggle when extra funding is introduced

A Norfolk mother fears some nurseries will struggle with extra costs when free childcare hours are extended.

Working parents will be able to claim 15 hours of free childcare a week for two-year-olds from April and children from nine months from September.

Rosie Wright, 41, said: "A lot of nurseries will struggle if it's not worked out properly."

The Department for Education said it had committed to increases to provider rates for the next two years.

The government has announced 15 hours of free childcare for two-year-olds from April 2024

The expansion of free childcare for working parents in England was announced by the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in his 2023 budget.

But concerns are being raised that nurseries and childminders could struggle to meet the extra demand.

Ms Wright, from Holt, volunteers at The Treehouse Cafe in the town as it fits around her childcare.

"I do think the free childcare is good for parents and it will get a lot of parents back to work sooner," she said.

"But I do think the nurseries will struggle because if all children are funded then they won't get as much money per child.

"So they will either have to charge top-up fees or they might go bankrupt."

Extra help with childcare costs in England is being rolled out in stages.

Extra help with childcare costs is being rolled out in stages. Some free hours are already available.

• From April 2024, working parents can get 15 hours free a week for two-year-olds.

• From September 2024, this is extended to children from the age of nine months.

• From September 2025, under fives will be entitled to 30 hours free childcare per week.

By full rollout, it is estimated demand for places could rise by 15% - equivalent to more than 100,000 additional children in full-time care.

Julie Brighton has run Springboard Nursery in Saxlingham Nethergate, near Norwich, for 13 years, but may have to close as recruitment is difficult.

"It's great for the parents but trying to find staff to accommodate that is another matter," she said.

"The government are only advertising now to encourage people to work in childcare, but they should have done that a lot sooner."

A DfE spokesperson said: "We are confident in the strength of our childcare market to deliver the largest ever expansion in childcare in England's history, and we are already seeing providers looking to expand their placements across the country."