Councils around the country are ditching the word ‘free’ to describe the 30 hours childcare offer in favour of ‘funded’ following sustained lobbying from early years providers.
The move comes amid parental confusion over the terms of the 30 hours and growing opposition from parents to paying for ‘extras’, particularly those new to the 15- or 30-hour entitlements.
Department for Education guidance says parents ‘should’ expect to pay for consumables, but settings cannot make an offer of a place dependent on parents paying for any extras.
Local authorities have been sending out promotional leaflets and banners to nurseries in preparation for the autumn term, with significant numbers now describing the 30 hours as ‘funded’, rather than ‘free’.
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