NEARLY 60 per cent of nurseries and childminders are struggling with the cost of offering families 30 hours of free childcare a week, a new poll suggests.

Under a government scheme rolled out last autumn, three and four-year-olds in England with working parents are entitled to this amount of free care.

A survey of 425 nursery leaders and childminders conducted by the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) found that only 19 per cent believe the government funding they receive for the free hours is sufficient.

Asked how they were balancing their budgets if they were not getting enough money, 70 per cent said that they were using funds from another part of their school or setting, while 16 per cent said they were charging parents for milk and nappies and 18 per cent said they were charging parents a higher rate for extra hours.

NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman said: “The government’s 30-hours free childcare promise should be a boost to parents. But it is not truly free.

“While all parents will see some benefit, enough childcare to meet a full working day is still prohibitively expensive for many.”