UK Free Childcare Expansion Faces Uncertainty

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan cannot guarantee that the government will meet its childcare vow on time, as she is 'not in control of all the bits'. The government announced the expansion of free childcare to working parents of two-year-olds from April and to parents of children aged nine months to three years from September. However, there have been warnings of serious problems with implementing the flagship policy, such as staff shortages and a lack of nursery availability. Keegan emphasized that 'deliverability has been at the heart' of the project, which is why it is being rolled out in stages.