Hundreds of childcare places to be created in Derby

A new scheme will create hundreds of childcare places for young children in Derby.It follows a government pledge to offer 3 and four year olds in England, up to 30 hours of free care every week.

Thousands of new childcare places for young children are to be created under a £50 million scheme, with many of those in Derby, ministers have announced.

The move will help to deliver a Government pledge to offer three andfour-year-olds in England 30 hours of free care a week, according to theDepartment for Education (DfE).

It said that almost 200 nurseries and pre-schools across the country will benefit from the funding pot, allowing them to invest in new buildings, upgrade old ones and improve facilities.

Credit: ITV News.

Nearly 9,000 places are expected to be created due to the new money.Over £2 million of the public money is to be invested in the Government's six "opportunity areas" - places considered to be falling behind on socialmobility including Derby.

The other areas Norwich, Oldham, Scarborough and West Somerset.Education Secretary Justine Greening said:

Under the current system, all three and four-year-olds in England, as well as disadvantaged two-year-olds, are eligible for 15 free hours of childcare a week. Credit: ITV News.

Under the current system, all three and four-year-olds in England, as well asdisadvantaged two-year-olds, are eligible for 15 free hours of childcare aweek.

This is due to be doubled to 30 hours nationwide later this year.Early years groups and experts have raised concerns about the move, warning that nurseries and other childcare providers need more money from government in order to meet the 30 free hours offer.