Expansion Fund Underutilised According to NDNA Research

Expansion Fund Underutilised According to NDNA Research

Before this year’s general election, the government announced the creation of a £100 million fund to support its planned expansion of the childcare entitlement in England. Envisaged as a way to support capital projects to increase capacity in the sector, the fund is administered and distributed by local authorities. However, according to a series of Freedom of Information requests by the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), more than 95% of the funds have yet to be spent. 

Utilisation of the funds has not been uniform across the country. While East Sussex and Enfield have distributed well over half a million pounds each, Wigan has distributed just £4,478, and only Hounslow has fully distributed its entire grant. Moreover, 63 local authorities have not even opened applications yet. With the expanded entitlement roll out well underway and parents already concerned about securing places for their children, many in the sector are concerned about the impact of this delay.

Local authorities are often the linchpin for childcare policy, but they are also organisations with a very wide range of responsibilities and budgets that have come under immense pressure in recent years. This may explain in some cases why they have been slow to act, but ultimately it does not excuse a failure to make funds available to a sector that is badly in need of them. 

As is always the case, the sector will need to make its voice heard, putting pressure on both local and national decision makers to ensure it can deliver the high-quality childcare the country’s children deserve.