Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of childcare and early years education settings that (a) are charging supplements, (b) are charging for items that they did not previously charge for in order to make up a shortfall in funding they receive and (c) have raised costs for two-year olds to cross-subsidise for three and four-year olds in order to deliver the 30 hours of free childcare for three and four-year olds.

Our statutory guidance and operational guidance are clear that government funding is intended to deliver 15 or 30 hours a week of free, high-quality, flexible childcare. The funding is not intended to cover the costs of meals, other consumables, additional hours or additional services.

Consequently providers can, and should, feel free to charge parents for meals, consumables (such as nappies and sun cream) and for additional activities (such as trips). Parents must not, however, be required to pay any fee as a condition of taking up a free entitlement place, and must be offered alternative options.

Where a parent chooses to pay for these it is a private matter between the provider and the parent. Our guidance does not address how providers operate their private businesses over and above a child’s free hours. So charges for other age groups are solely an arrangement between the provider and the parent.

The evaluation of early delivery areas found that providers were willing and able to offer 30 hours and that, parents were not deterred from taking up their place by additional charges.