The UK government's ambitious plan to expand free childcare has hit a significant roadblock, with experts and campaigners warning that a reliance on a digital-only application system will shut out the very families it aims to help.
From April 2024, working parents of two-year-olds in England are set to receive 15 hours of free care. This is the first step in a major expansion that will eventually offer 30 hours to all eligible children from nine months old. However, the promising policy is being undermined by its delivery mechanism.
'A System Set Up to Fail'
Campaigners from Pregnant Then Screwed and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation have sounded the alarm, stating that the mandatory online application process through the GOV.UK website is a barrier for disadvantaged groups. This includes families with poor internet access, those who speak English as a second language, and parents with low digital literacy.
Joeli Brearley, founder of Pregnant Then Screwed, stated: "The system is set up in a way that will mean those most in need will struggle to access it. We are setting up a system for failure."
Who is Most at Risk?
The digital barrier disproportionately affects:
- Low-income families who may lack reliable broadband or computers.
- Grandparents and kinship carers often tasked with applying on behalf of parents.
- Non-English speakers navigating a complex, untranslated government portal.
- Parents with learning difficulties or disabilities.
This creates a 'digital exclusion' crisis, where the most vulnerable children could miss out on their entitled early education due to bureaucratic hurdles.
Government Response and Mounting Pressure
While the Department for Education (DfE) insists that "the online application is quick and simple" and that support is available via telephone helplines, critics argue this is not enough. The government faces calls to implement a fully streamlined, automated system that proactively issues codes to eligible families, removing the application burden altogether.
With the rollout's success critical for both family finances and the broader economy, all eyes are on Westminster to fix the digital divide before the scheme collapses under the weight of its own complexity.
