Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has expanded free childcare for working parents in England to cover all children under five.
The move could allow 60,000 more parents of young children to enter the workforce according to the government’s independent forecaster.
While the move has been welcomed by parents, there's been criticism from the childcare sector, which is struggling with a workforce shortage and financial pressures that are forcing businesses to close.
On the Sky News Daily, Kimberley Leonard speaks to political correspondent Tamara Cohen about the plans, as well as getting the reaction of Sharon Birch who used to run a nursery in Hartlepool but was forced out by the costs and Steph Barrett, manager of BeBright Pre-School, in Spalding in Lincolnshire.
Podcast producer: Emma-Rae Woodhouse
Interview’s producer: Alex Edden
Editor: Philly Beaumont
The move could allow 60,000 more parents of young children to enter the workforce according to the government’s independent forecaster.
While the move has been welcomed by parents, there's been criticism from the childcare sector, which is struggling with a workforce shortage and financial pressures that are forcing businesses to close.
On the Sky News Daily, Kimberley Leonard speaks to political correspondent Tamara Cohen about the plans, as well as getting the reaction of Sharon Birch who used to run a nursery in Hartlepool but was forced out by the costs and Steph Barrett, manager of BeBright Pre-School, in Spalding in Lincolnshire.
Podcast producer: Emma-Rae Woodhouse
Interview’s producer: Alex Edden
Editor: Philly Beaumont