Expansion of funded childcare could ‘jeopardise’ quality of provision, watchdog warns
The government’s expansion of funded childcare for working parents in England could affect the quality of provision or places for young children, Whitehall’s spending watchdog has said.
The risk of an influx of “inexperienced” early years staff, alongside higher staff to child supervision ratios for two-year-olds, may jeopardise the quality of childcare provision, according to the National Audit Office (NAO).
The findings are part of a report into the government’s expanded offer of funded childcare for working families of younger children in England.
The NAO said “uncertainties” remain over whether the sector can expand to deliver enough places amid a .
