A call for a fresh examination of undisclosed nursery charges has been made by the Education Secretary following complaints from parents who claimed they were being billed to access free Government-funded hours.
The availability of up to 30 hours of free childcare per week has been expanded, but some parents allege they are facing compulsory fees to utilize the support.
Childcare providers have the option to levy additional charges on parents for items such as meals, snacks, nappies, or extra activities. However, these fees should not be obligatory or a prerequisite for accessing a funded slot. Authorities have the authority to take action against childcare providers found in violation of the regulations.
Seventy-two percent of parents indicate they are utilizing savings to cover supplementary costs, with 27% citing cost as the primary obstacle to obtaining childcare. Bridget Phillipson has formally requested the independent Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to conduct an investigation.
In addition, the Government has introduced a new tool to assist parents in locating nearby childcare services. The tool is being piloted in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, and Bath and North East Somerset before a nationwide launch later this year.
Ms. Phillipson remarked, “I come from a background where every penny counts. I am immensely proud of the significant impact that 30 hours of funded childcare has on family finances, saving an average of £8,000 per child annually.
“The majority of nurseries and childminders have been exceptional in supporting us, but I will not tolerate the minority that fails families and prevents them from receiving what was promised.”
Since September 2025, all eligible families with children aged nine months to four years can access 30 hours of free childcare every week. To qualify for free childcare, parents of children aged nine months to two years must earn the equivalent of the national minimum wage for 16 hours weekly, on average, and earn less than £100,000 annually.
All parents of three and four-year-olds are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare weekly as a standard benefit, irrespective of their employment status. Working parents with children in this age group can claim the full 30 hours if they meet the income criteria. The Department for Education estimates that over 500,000 families now benefit from funded hours.