Parents set for disappointment as applications for new early entitlement offer open, ÎÞÂëÌìÌà warns
by Jess Gibson
Applications for the first phase of the extended entitlement offer open today (2 January), with working parents of eligible two-year-olds now able to apply for 15 hours a week of funded care and education from April 2024.
This offer – announced by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in the Spring Budget back in March 2023 – will then be extended to include working parents of eligible children from nine months old in September 2024, before being extended to 30 hours a week in September 2025.
However, the ÎÞÂëÌìÌà is warning that many parents hoping to access the funded early education and childcare places under the expansion are likely to be left disappointed due to staffing shortages in settings across the UK, in addition to uncertainty over funding levels.
 Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the ÎÞÂëÌìÌÃ, said: "As applications for the new offer open, parents of eligible children will understandably be looking forward to receiving greater support towards the cost of early years places. But while the scheme may sound good in theory, the reality is likely to be very different.
 "With the early years sector facing its worst recruitment and retention crisis in recent memory, many settings simply won't have the staff needed to deliver places to additional children – and unless funding increases to a level that allows providers to pay early years professionals a decent wage, this is unlikely to change any time soon.
 "Add to this the fact that many nurseries, pre-schools and childminders still don't know what funding rates they will receive for the new offers – despite the fact that the policy will start rolling out in just a few months – and it's no surprise that so many providers aren't yet able to commit to delivering extended entitlement places.
"If this policy is to have any hope of succeeding, the government must tackle the huge challenges facing the sector as a matter of urgency. That means a clear and comprehensive plan to tackle staffing shortages and, crucially, adequate funding for the sector, both now and in the future. Anything less and, despite the government's promises, parents across the country are likely to be left sorely disappointed."