22 JANUARY 2024 - Responding to reports that the UK government's childcare policy to offer all two-year-olds 15 free hours of childcare a week from April is in jeopardy, Meghan Meek O-Connor, senior policy advisor at Save the Children UK, said: 

"Delays and technical issues surrounding the vital 15 free hours childcare policy will impact thousands of families. Childcare bills are already sky high and this means some families are going to have to make drastic decisions, like taking their children out of nursery altogether. 

"Not only are we furious that the roll-out is in jeopardy but all along we have said that the UK Government simply hasn't put enough money into this scheme. There is a £5 billion shortfall in the overall funding that's needed to make lasting change to childcare in this country.

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