The weekly cost of full-time childcare is an extortionate £233 a week, photo Anthony Kelly/CC

The weekly cost of full-time childcare is an extortionate £233 a week, photo Anthony Kelly/CC   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

The cost of childcare is rocketing. Access to places is being squeezed. The funding local authorities receive from the government to deliver free childcare for three and four-year-olds is not enough. And the Tories knew it!

According to the Early Years Alliance, the Tories are paying less than two-thirds what their own figures suggested was needed.

This funding hole is forcing up prices for those not covered by the scheme, leading to a reduction in service quality as providers squeeze costs, and in some cases causing providers to close. Finding a space is increasingly difficult.

Early years childcare needs to be fully funded, publicly owned and access be extended to all parents. Only then will there be high-quality, and affordable childcare for all.