Extend free childcare to boost economy, says CBI

Children and Young People Now reports that The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has called for the free childcare offer to be extended to all one- and two-year-olds to improve prospects for the economy and children. The CBI wants all parents to receive free childcare for one-year-olds Early years groups have welcomed the idea, included in the CBI Better Off Britain report, but warned that it can only be delivered if there is an increase in the amount of funding government puts into free childcare and improvements are made in staff training and salaries.

The CBI plan calls for all parents of one- and two-year-olds to receive 15 hours of free childcare from a registered provider. Over time, the number of free hours the government funds under the scheme should be increased, it adds. Currently, the free entitlement allows parents of all three- and four-year-olds to receive 15 hours of care. In addition, 260,000 of the most disadvantaged two-year-olds receive 15 hours of free nursery provision. – See more at:

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