Jeremy Hunt’s free childcare pledge leave parents to ‘pick up tab’ as nurseries hike fees

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Parents are facing a hike in nursery fees of up to 15 per cent as they pick up the tab left by funding gaps in Jeremy Hunt’s flagship scheme to expand free childcare, The Independent can reveal. The Independent can also report that: The cost of placing a two-year-old in a nursery has risen 20 per cent since 2018 The number of nurseries and early years services in operation has fallen from 66,600 in 2018 to 56,300 in 2023 Nearly a quarter – 24 per cent – of nurseries and preschools said it is likely or very likely they will close over the next 12 months With the Tories hoping for a boost in the run-up to this year’s general election, eligible working parents of two-year-olds were told in the spring Budget that they could claim 15 hours a week of free childcare. The government claims the expanded scheme will save parents almost £7,000 a year in nursery costs when it’s fully rolled out next year, with 30 hours of free childcare for all children aged under five. open image in gallery Laura Soar’s son Jasper will qualify for 15 hours of free childcare in April but the bill for his care will increase “We are getting 10p extra an hour this year in rates to pay but the living wage has gone up 10 per cent, our bills have doubled in some of the buildings and the cost of everything has increased.