Speaking at the Pre-School Learning Alliance’s annual conference in London today, shadow children’s minister Sharon Hodgson, said, ‘The free entitlement for three- and four-year-olds should remain free to everyone, and a similar offer for two-year-olds should be the ultimate ambition.'
More than 700 delegates attended the Alliance’s conference to celebrate the organisation’s 50th anniversary.
The shadow minister, a former childminder, admitted that while there are affordability issues for providers and local and national government, it was important that free provision continues to be part of the offer to help parents get back to work.
While acknowledging the sustainability issues for some private and voluntary providers, she said top-up fees were not the way forward.
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