Government’s Childcare Expansion Raises Concerns Over Quality and Availability

The government’s expansion of funded childcare for working parents in England could potentially affect the quality of provision or places for young children, according to a report by the National Audit Office (NAO). The NAO expressed concerns about a possible influx of inexperienced early years staff and higher staff-to-child supervision ratios for two-year-olds, which could jeopardize the quality of childcare. The report highlights the need for further monitoring of the impact on quality and places for disadvantaged children or those with special needs. Additionally, the expansion has raised concerns over the feasibility of delivering enough places, with only 34% of local authorities expressing confidence in meeting demand.

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