Expansion plans require 85,000 more childcare places by September 2025

If successful, the scheme will be rolled out to expand funded childcare for eligible families of children as young as nine months old.

So far nearly four in five (79%) of the codes issued to eligible parents of two-year-olds across England to secure childcare funding for this month have been validated by providers, said the DfE, with thousands more having their places confirmed over the coming weeks.

As long as a parent plans to return to work or start a new job by the end of September, they will now be able to apply for their childcare code in May at the same time as everyone else, the DfE said.

Neil Leitch, the chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, said: “With government admitting not only that 40,000 additional educators are required by September 2025 but also 85,000 new places, it’s clear that, regardless of the positive spin government is trying to put on the current situation, the challenge facing the sector is an immense one.

“If the government is to have any hope of rolling out this offer successfully in the long term, it’s crucial that ministers acknowledge and tackle the fundamental issues facing nurseries, preschools and providers.

“Nurseries are working hard to deliver the existing offer, but creating additional places for under-twos can be very challenging.