Parents in England are being charged extra fees for nursery places as providers seek to cover government underfunding of free childcare hours, campaigners have said. Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, described the additional charges as a 'cross-subsidy' that can run into thousands of pounds a year for consumables such as food, wipes and nappies.
The comments came as Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson asked the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to investigate hidden charges faced by parents accessing government-funded childcare. Eligible working parents can claim 30 hours a week of free childcare for children aged nine months to four years, but the Department for Education said 'too many' parents reported being asked to pay more for deposits, compulsory add-ons and additional hours.
A survey conducted in May and June last year found nearly three-quarters of parents with children in formal childcare paid for extras including meals, snacks, nappies and sun cream. One parent, Rick Kelsey, wrote in the Times that charges of up to £16 a day—thousands of pounds annually for full-time nursery—were added on top of standard fees.
Writing in the Guardian, Phillipson said the government investment in free hours was not meant to deliver hidden charges, restricted hours or excessive deposits. The CMA said it welcomed the request for a review and would develop a proposal to put to its board. The government has also launched a digital map of childcare providers in Bristol and surrounding areas, to be rolled out nationwide later this year.
