Truss 'considers sending childcare money to parents' in England

Liz Truss is reportedly considering an overhaul of the grant system for the childcare that parents, rather than nurseries, would receive money from the government to spend as they saw fit.

As things stand, all children aged three and four years in England are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare per week during school terms, while some families can claim up to double that amount.

Funding for each place is currently sent directly to approved providers, such as crèches or childminders.

The money, which is usually around £2,000 per child per year, is paid directly to crèches at present. However, the Prime Minister and his Education Secretary, Kit Malthouse, are reportedly weighing proposals which would see the money paid directly to parents to invest as they wish.

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

The Times said 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 provide childcare and the age children must be to be eligible.

A government source told the newspaper that the existing system of subsidized childcare was a 'convoluted Heath Robinson process'. Instead, parents could be given a budget - likely equivalent to the amount currently paid to nurseries - to spend over time as they wish.

The Early Years Alliance, which represents approximately 14,000 nurseries in England, said the idea risked creating a "two-tier system". Neil Leitch, chief executive of the charity, said: "Wealthier families able to top up their government 'pot' could access better quality care and education much more easily than those on lower incomes who cannot. can't afford it."

Bridget Phillipson, the shadow education secretary, said: "These half-baked plans show the Tories have no idea how to create a system that works for families Labor will create a modern childcare system that will support parents from the end of parental leave to the end of primary school Prime Minister is trying to change a 'convoluted system'

Alternatively, families could have near-total freedom over how they spend the money, potentially passing it on to grandparents to help with childcare.

The upheaval occurs after a few days dif tough for Liz Truss following a colossal U-turn on the 45p tax rate cut. At the Tory conference, some Tory MPs are 'talking openly' about how Ms Truss could be impeached, former No10 chief of staff Nick Timothy said - predicting it would be difficult for the Prime Minister to survive the difficult start to his term as Prime Minister.

The senior Downing Street official who worked under Theresa May said he remained "very, very difficult to recover" from the disastrous mini-budget that sparked a backbench rebellion.< /p>

A DfE spokesperson said: "We are exploring a wide range of options to make childcare more accessible and affordable for parents, but no decision has been made."< /p>