Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether a local authority has the power to (a) withdraw or (b) threaten to withdraw funding for 30 hours free childcare if it believes that charges placed by a setting onto parents for additional extras such as food and consumables are excessive.
Local councils have the power to impose requirements on childcare providers as a condition of funding in order to ensure that the early years’ provision is free of charge and/or that any financial assistance provided by the local council is used properly and in accordance with the provisions of the agreement between the provider and the local council. It is for local councils to work together with providers when developing their agreements.