The Department for Education (DfE) said the consultation, set to last a little over three weeks, would inform the Government’s awaited workforce strategy.
The news follows increasing concern from early years professionals over the impact on recruitment of the maths and English GCSE requirement, and overwhelming calls for a functional skills alternative.
Views are sought on how to build a skilled workforce to best deliver the 30-hour free childcare offer from next September.
In addition to the launch, the DfE has published a response to an earlier consultation on how the 30-hours would work in practice, which opened in April.
Feedback from parents, professionals and local authorities pointed to the need for more flexible hours, and so the offer will be available over an extended period, increasing to 6am-8pm (from 7am – 7pm).
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