Parents in England who claim extra free childcare from September will be asked to pay charges to help tackle a funding shortfall, nurseries have warned.

A government scheme offering 30 hours of childcare a week to working parents of three and four-year-olds is to be piloted in York next month. But the Pre-school Learning Alliance said providers may refuse to offer the care because it could cost them money. The government said it was set to spend a record amount on childcare.

'Underfunded'

Some families who use only free care may be unable to dictate when they want their children to attend a nursery or to secure places for more than one term at a time. The scheme, which is also being trialled in another seven areas in September, was a key promise in the Conservative general election manifesto. Fifteen hours of taxpayer-funded childcare for all three and four-year-olds has been available since 2010 and some two-year-olds are also eligible for free care. But providers in York say the new policy is underfunded and they stand to lose tens of thousands of pounds.......

Source: Read more here