Free Childcare?
Why Parents Are Still Paying the Price
The Promise vs The Reality
When the government announced 30 hours of free childcare for children as young as nine months, parents thought this was the breakthrough. Finally — support during the most expensive years.
But when the invoices arrived, many parents realised the bills hadn’t disappeared. In some cases, they barely changed at all.
“If Its free, why am i still paying hundreds each month?
a question thousands of parents are asking.
The “Free Daffodil” Analogy
The government promised free daffodils. Instead, families got bulbs.
A bulb has potential, but without soil, water, and sunlight, it never becomes a flower. Some parents can only afford the storage option — bulbs kept alive but never blossoming. Others invest more and watch their daffodils bloom bright and strong.
This is what’s happening in childcare. The government funding only covers the bulb. Parents are left paying for the rest — the care, the nourishment, the growth.
The County Lottery
A Postcode Problem
Childcare funding rates vary dramatically depending on your county.
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In some areas, the rate stretches to cover a reasonable service.
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In others, it doesn’t even touch the essentials.
This means two children, the same age, with the same entitlement, can have completely different experiences — just because of where they live.
It’s not about the size of the nursery. It’s about the funding rate per child, and it’s wildly unequal.
The Real Impact On Children
This isn’t just about parental budgets. It’s about the quality of children’s early years.
When funding falls short, children lose out:
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Fewer staff = less individual attention
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Meals cut back or charged as extras
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Enriching approaches (Montessori, Forest School, Steiner, Reggio Emilia) can’t survive
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Some nurseries and childminders close altogether, leaving families stranded
Research shows every £1 invested in early childhood education brings £4–£13 in long-term benefits.
What Needs to Change?
To make childcare truly work for children and families, we need:
Fair funding across all counties – so postcode doesn’t decide opportunity.
Recognition of quality – not just hours, but what actually happens in them.
Proper pay for staff – our children’s first educators deserve respect and fair wages.
Children at the heart – policies designed for their needs, not just political headlines.
More Than Hours. It’s About Their Future.
Parents were promised free childcare, but what we’ve been given is underfunded hours and confused families.
Children deserve better. They deserve care, nourishment, and opportunities that help them grow — not a system that stores them until parents finish work.
Because at the heart of this debate, it isn’t really about budgets or hours.
It’s about our children.
What Can Parents Do?
✓ Ask your local authority how they’ve spent early years funding
✓ Support your local nursery or childminder by sharing the issue
✓ Contact your local MP and demand transparency and better use of public funds