Free childcare hours 'could be scrapped' in government's 'half-baked' childcare plans

Liz Truss reportedly hatches plans to send money directly to parents to spend however they see fit, instead of paying for child care , with Labor criticizing the program as 'half-baked'

Money could be sent directly to parents under reported government plans (

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Free childcare hours could be scrapped as part of a "half-baked" childcare plan that would be under consideration in Issue 10.

The Prime Minister is said to be hoping to send money directly to parents to spend as they see fit, instead of paying nurseries for free hours.

As it stands, childcare funding is sent directly to approved providers, such as crèches or childminders.

However, the Prime Minister and his Education Secretary, Kit Malthouse, are reportedly weighing proposals that the money would be paid directly to parents.

All three- and four-year-olds in England are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare a week during school terms, while some families can claim up to double that amount.

All children aged three and four in England are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare per week (

Picture:

Getty Images)

The Department for Education (DfE) has said 'a wide range of options' are being considered to make childcare more accessible and affordable, but no decision has yet been made .

reports that one option is to give parents a flexible childcare budget instead of a paid place, with the government able to relax rules on which providers can offer childcare and what ages children must have to be eligible.< /p>