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New report costs universal provision

A radical vision of universal early years education and childcare, published this week, would see parents making an average contribution of 30 per cent of total costs instead of the current 75 per cent, and direct grants to providers by 2020. The report by accountants PriceWaterhouse Coopers (PWC) considered the costs, benefits and options for funding a vision of universal early education and care developed by the Daycare Trust and the Social Market Foundation.

The report by accountants PriceWaterhouse Coopers (PWC) considered the costs, benefits and options for funding a vision of universal early education and care developed by the Daycare Trust and the Social Market Foundation.

The report recommends an extension of parental leave to 12 months and home care allowances for parents of one- to two-year-olds. It also advocated 20 hours a week free early years education and care for all two-, three- and four-year-olds and additional wraparound care for this age group from 8am to 6pm, 48 weeks a year.

Universal early education and care in 2020: costs, benefits and funding options also called for a childcare entitlement to cover the whole working day for parents who want it, and wraparound care for five- to 14-year- olds in line with Government proposals for extended schools.

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