The Guardian view on free nursery places: risks as well as rewards must be monitored | Editorial

"The first of September was keenly awaited by hundreds of thousands of working parents of children aged between nine months and four. As of now, they are entitled to 30 free childcare or nursery hours a week. The education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, is right to stress that this is the biggest-ever expansion of early years provision described by the Institute for Fiscal Studies as a new branch of the welfare state."

"Equivalent to about 7,500 per year, per child, this is worth more, to most women in full-time work, than abolishing their income tax and national insurance contributions. Working-age parents, particularly those with larger families, have been dealt with less generously by the tax and benefits systems in recent years than under the Blair and Brown governments. The UK has higher childcare costs than most leading economies. So it is right that parents of the youngest children are targeted with support."

"Implementation will need to be closely monitored, however. Most of the new funding will flow to private providers. Ms Phillipson is a strong advocate for new nurseries attached to primary schools, but these are small in number. Families are being given additional funding, but not a new public service. The new subsidy will not cover fees in full. Many nurseries face shortages of trained staff, while the number of childminders usually women working at home keeps on falling."

A new funding regime provides children aged nine months to four with 30 free childcare or nursery hours a week, representing the largest expansion of early years provision. The subsidy is equivalent to about £7,500 per year, per child, and delivers more to many full-time working women than abolishing income tax and national insurance. Most funding will flow to private providers, with few new nurseries attached to primary schools. The subsidy will not cover fees in full. Many nurseries face trained-staff shortages and the number of childminders continues to fall. Private-equity owned businesses control a growing number of settings, requiring close implementation monitoring.

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