The report, released today by the Department for Education (DfE), provides estimates of places actually taken up for the 30 hours offer for the first time since it was launched in September 2017.
According to the statistics, 224,885 eligibility codes were issued to parents in the autumn term. Of these, 210,863 (94 per cent) were validated by a provider or local authority, and 202,783 (90 per cent) resulted in a secured place, leaving 22,102 eligible parents without a place.
Following warnings of a ‘postcode lottery’ for 30-hour places in November, the figures also suggested that in 43 per cent of local authorities, the proportion of children who had been issued eligibility codes taking up 30 hours places was lower than the national average.
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