FUNDING is crucial to the success of the Conservatives' pre-election pledge to double free childcare for young children, which was confirmed in the Queen's Speech.

Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance, said: "While plans to improve the availability of childcare are of course positive in theory, they unfortunately remain unlikely to succeed in practice given that, to date, the Government has done so little to address concerns that the free childcare scheme is severely underfunded.”

His was a view shared by Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), who explained: “It is incredibly important that nursery providers are funded properly to make these plans sustainable. NDNA is keen to work with the Childcare Minister, Sam Gyimah, on a full funding review, as promised before the election, to secure a meaningful increase in funding for childcare providers."

Under a new Childcare Bill, working parents in England will be entitled to 30 hours of free care and early years education for three and four-year-olds for 38 weeks a year - the length of the school year.

At present, three and four-year-olds in England, along with the poorest two-year-olds, are entitled to 15 free hours of nursery or childcare each week of the school year.

Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, added: "High quality early childcare is good for children and good for parents. However, it needs well qualified professional staff, excellent resources and cannot be done on the cheap.”