Childcare places 'fall by 1,000' as Labor accuses ministers of 'botched' expansion

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The number of childcare places has fallen by more than 1,000, even as demand is expected to explode with the introduction of free hours for two-year-olds, according to the Labor Party.

This month sees the rollout of what the government has billed as the biggest ever expansion of childcare.

Ministers have promised working parents that by next year they will benefit from 30 hours free between the end of maternity leave and the day their child starts school.

The first stage, however, will see parents of two-year-olds benefit from 15 hours free.

But Labor accused the Tories of having a “care promise of children without a plan. as he warned that families are still struggling to enroll their children.

New analysis of Ofsted data suggests childcare places fell by more than 1,000 between March and December last year, the party said, out of a total of 1, 2 million.

Bridget Phillipson, the shadow education secretary, is calling on the chancellor to ensure eligible parents do not lose out on places because of a “botched” plan.

The 15 hours will be extended to working parents for all children aged over nine months in September, before the full rollout of 30 hours per week a year later.

The Labor Party also published a report. dossier on 'childcare chaos', which includes testimonies from parents and nurseries across England who complain about high costs, extra charges and waiting lists at some nurseries of up to 18 months.

A nursery has warned it could be “forced into bankruptcy” due to the government's expanded offer.

The Independent led its own survey, showing that some parents were facing rising tuition fees despite the introduction of free hours.

Commitment to childcare was central to the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's budget last year.

Ministers insist it will boost the economy by helping thousands of parents return to work...