Opinion: Editor's view

On 1 April, the new duties for local authorities under the Childcare Act became statutory. Councils are now required to improve outcomes for children, reduce inequalities and assess the local childcare market to ensure it meets the needs of families. An important part of this is the duty to secure a free minimum amount of early learning and care for all three- and four-year-olds whose parents want it. This provision is under increasing pressure, however, as the protest about the level of nursery education funding...