Tory pledge on more free childcare in disarray before it has even been launched

The scheme is facing accusations of a funding shortfall and technical difficulties

The most expensive years for raising a child are when he or she is between the ages of one and four (PA)

Tens of thousands of parents are reportedly still waiting to find out if they will receive the government’s offer of 30 hours of free childcare just days before the scheme is set to launch.

The flagship Tory election pledge is set to come into force on 1 September, and will double the current government-funded allowance.

There have been accusations of a funding shortfall and technical difficulties as many people are still yet to have had their details processed.

Latest figures suggest that 82,000 parents who are entitled to the extra childcare have not been informed as to whether they have secured funding, according to a letter seen by The Observer.

Tracy Brabin, the Shadow minister for early years, said 75 per cent of childcare providers believe the policy will have a negative impact on their business.

“I’m deeply concerned that many children won’t have access to the quality childcare they deserve – and that parents were promised,” she told the newspaper.

Estimates from The Pre-School Learning Alliance, an educational charity, suggest there is a 20 per cent shortfall between the amount the government is giving local authorities to fund the scheme compared with the actual cost to nurseries.

This could potentially lead to nurseries struggling with extra costs and subsequently having to close down.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “The 30-hour offer is already being delivered in several areas across the country, with over 15,000 children benefiting from a place. We know from our evaluation that providers are committed to offering 30 hours and the additional hours are having a really positive impact on families, taking huge pressures off families’ finances.”

They added: “We are determined to support as many families as possible with access to high-quality, affordable childcare, which is why we are investing a record £6 billion every year by 2020 in childcare – more than ever before – and doubling the free childcare available to working parents to 30 hours a week, saving them up to £5,000 a year per child.

“This funding includes an additional £1bn per year by 2019-20 to pay for the free offers and to raise the national hourly rate to local authorities for three- and four-year-olds to £4.94 per hour. This is far higher than the average hourly cost of providing childcare for three- and four-year-olds, which recent research has found to be £3.72.”