- 3 updates
Experts warn over lack of childcare spaces this summer
Schools may need to open this summer after research from a children's charity found there was only one childcare space for every 15 kids across the UK.
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Using schools for childcare 'just makes sense'
Using school facilities during the summer holidays as a means of childcare "just makes sense" for a lot of parents, the head of a children's charity told Good Morning Britain.
Chief executive of 4Children Anne Longfield said it was something parents could rely on.
Govt: Over 116,000 'already accessing free childcare'
Some 116,000 youngsters are already using the 15 hours of free childcare they are entitled to from the Government, a Department of Education spokesman said.
The DfE rebuffed claims more needed to be done to tackle growing demand and said:
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Charity warns of 'one childcare place for every 15 kids'
A childcare crisis is looming this summer, with only one place for every 15 kids across the UK, a charity has found.
4Children wants schools to open across the summer holidays so youngsters have somewhere safe to go while their parents are at work.
The children's and family charity say there are just 450,000 places in holiday clubs or with childminders available to the 6.8million children aged four and 14-years-old. This equates to one place for every 15 children.
4Children also wanted to see the Government build on free entitlements for two, three and four-year-olds, so older children can access affordable, high quality childcare from the end of parental leave until school.