Most councils face 30-hour funding rates freeze

Seven out of 10 councils will not see an increase in the hourly rates they are paid to fund the free childcare entitlement in 2018/19. The early years national funding formula figures for 2018/19, just released by the Department for Education, show that 70 per cent of England’s 150 councils will see no change in the hourly rate for the 30 hours of free childcare on offer to three- and four-year-olds. Of the remaining local authorities, 21 (14 per cent) will have their hourly rate cut and 24 (16 per cent) will see an increase. Read more.