Free childcare in England for nine-month-olds - but rollout comes with 'challenges'

Parents and carers of children in England aged nine months or over will be entitled to 15 hours of free childcare a week from Monday, the government has confirmed.

The plans to extend free childcare provision were announced by the then Conservative government back in 2023, with the first stage - 15 hours of childcare for two-year-olds each week - being rolled out in April this year.

[glorianikolova]

This is ridiculous. They need to extend the maturity pay up to 12 months not asking parents to leave 9 months olds with other people. Like most countries around the world the maturity pay is 12months or more and grandparents can also take part. I don't know is there no women in the government to raise their voice to do something for all mums and small babies?

[wendylaubscher]

Great to see this... already doing this in NZ, but is difficult finding teachers.

[robertcreighton]

Handing your babies over to strangers is weird
My mum stayed at home to raise us

[MohammedL]

Another way to raise more tax whilst paying teachers tuppence

[BrimstoneSociety-jspo]

Its called a "mother" in my country. She takes care of the family.

[cw]

Nothing is free! Wish they'd stop saying this, like "free school meals".
The taxpayer is paying for this.

[givemoreblood]

its not free we will be taxed more for this

[lynneuribeross]

Nothing is free, taxpayers footing the bill.

[cristianegiles]

It’s my idea because I have told to all politicians for years and years ago because in Brasil at Uberlândia Minas Gerais the city I’m from called EMEI