The move targets costs ministers say are undermining England’s free-childcare offer, which now covers eligible working parents of children from nine months old and is used by more than 1.7 million families.
Department for Education figures show average full-time nursery costs for an under-two in England are just under £149 a week in 2026, down 39% from last year, but families can still face upfront and add-on charges.
The review fits a broader cost-of-living push after poor local election results, alongside summer VAT cuts on family attractions, free August bus travel for under-16s and lower import taxes on some basic foods.
With providers blaming underfunding for extra fees, can a government probe actually deliver the promised 'free' childcare for English families?
After devastating election losses, are summer savings and a childcare probe enough to fix the UK's deep cost-of-living crisis?
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