Jeremy Hunt used his Budget to unveil multi-billion pound reforms, which will allow some parents of one- and two-year-olds in England to claim 30 hours of free childcare a week. It will be available to children as young as nine months.
At the same time, he announced the Government will increase funding nurseries are paid to provide the free childcare — which is already available to parents of three- and four- year-olds for 15 or 30 hours per week.
Parents in the capital have to pay the highest costs for childcare in the country, according to data from the charity Coram Family and Childcare.
Inner London has the most expensive nursery places for two-year-olds in the country, with a full-time place costing more than £370 a week, compared with a national average of about £280.
But James Bowen, director of policy at the National Association of Head Teachers union, said the plan would only work if there was “a significant increase in the funding rates” the Government pays to providers.
He said: “There will be concern among schools and providers about the deliverability of the extended childcare offer, particularly in places like London.
“Early years settings are already struggling to recruit enough staff based on existing arrangements.”
Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, added: “Further detail on how this will work in practice is absolutely vital before we can judge whether this is a welcome step.”
To try and boost nursery places, which have fallen sharply in the capital, Mr Hunt relaxed staffing ratios and offered £500 bonuses to people to become child-carers.
Meanwhile the cap on the amount parents on Universal Credit can claim back for childcare costs is set to rise from £646 a month for one child and £1,108 for two by hundreds of pounds.
In a further boost, parents on benefits will get money upfront, rather than claiming it back once they have paid nursery or childminder bills.
