Thousands of disadvantaged two-year-olds miss out on free childcare places

Nick Clegg says David Cameron blocked expansion in deference to Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre

The government’s childcare record has come under renewed fire this weekend after it emerged that large numbers of children in some of the country’s poorest areas are missing out on a flagship programme introduced by the coalition government to give disadvantaged two-year-olds a better start in life.

The scheme, to provide 15 hours free childcare for 40% of the most disadvantaged two-year-olds, was introduced four years ago. Yet nearly three in 10 children are still not getting the places intended for them, according to research by a leading thinktank and the Labour MP Lucy Powell.

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from Children | The Guardian http://ift.tt/2vUBcxy