More than 100,000 parents have signed up to claim 15 hours of free childcare for two-year-olds under a new £8 billion scheme. But short-staffed nurseries will not be able to cope with demand.

However, they remain concerned about whether funding levels will be adequate to cover the cost to nurseries of offering the places. The Pre-School Learning Alliance said that the hourly figure quoted ...

Under the scheme, working parents of three and four-year-olds are already able to get 30 hours of free childcare. From September, it will be extended to 15 hours for those aged nine months and above.

Only 45% of nurseries will extend free childcare for pre-schoolers because of funding concerns, according to researchers. The government wants to double free childcare for three and four-year-olds in ...

This has led to 83% of nurseries saying their costs are higher than the funding for three and four-year-old places. Their average shortfall is £2.36 per hour per child or £1,345 over the year ...