12/02/2026
💰 Free Childcare Isn’t Free - And Our Children Are Paying the Price. 💰
Over the last couple of days, newspapers and social posts have been telling parents:
“You don’t have to pay the extra charges for childcare.”
We completely understand why that message lands. Families are under pressure. Every pound matters.
But here’s what those headlines are missing - and it’s important.
“Free” childcare isn’t fully funded - The Government sets an hourly rate for funded places, but that rate often doesn’t cover the real cost of delivering high-quality early years care.
Staff wages. Rent. Energy bills. Food. Training. Insurance. Resources.
All rising. All essential. All real.
When the funding falls short, that gap doesn’t magically disappear, it’s absorbed by nurseries and childminders. This means providers are quietly subsidising funded hours from their own pockets.
The sector simply can’t keep doing that.
Childcare across the country is on its knees. Settings are reducing places, leaving the funded schemes, or closing their doors entirely.
If parents opt out of every additional charge while funding stays the same, the result isn’t cheaper childcare… It’s less childcare. 🤷🏻♀️
❌ Fewer nurseries.
❌ Fewer childminders.
❌ Longer waiting lists.
❌ Parents unable to return to work.
That helps no one.
And when income is squeezed, it’s the children who feel it first.
High-quality early years provision isn’t just about keeping doors open - it’s about enriching experiences: inspiring resources, exciting activities, outdoor learning, special visitors, trips, and highly trained staff who have the time to truly nurture each child.
When funding doesn’t stretch, those opportunities become harder to sustain. Not because providers don’t care, but because the money simply isn’t there.
💚 Children deserve more than the bare minimum.
They deserve environments where curiosity is sparked, confidence is built, and every child can thrive.
This isn’t about profit. It’s about survival.
At Kayte’s House, we exist because we love supporting children and families. We believe in accessible childcare. We want funded hours to work - we really, honestly do!
But the current system only works because providers stretch themselves - financially and emotionally - to breaking point.
So here’s our message to Government:
✅ Fund childcare properly.
✅ Match funding rates to real-world costs.
✅ Stop pushing providers into impossible positions.
✅ Stop pitting parents against providers
Because parents shouldn’t have to worry, and early years settings shouldn’t have to operate at a loss just to stay open.
✨ Sustainable funding = stable childcare = secure families. ✨
That’s what we’re fighting for. 💪🏽
