The UK government has indicated that it will set out a new pathway for early years and nursery care “later this year”.

Concerns include levels of funding not keeping pace with the increased costs of running childcare (partly from the Government NI hikes), access to nursery care (especially in rural areas) and the rules around early entitlement.

There have been no effective changes to the childcare provisions set out by the previous government and there is a feeling that the can is being kicked down the road.