Britain's nursery problem and the 'childcare deserts'

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The former Conservative chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, pledged in his 2023 Spring Budget to reform the childcare system. This promise was a beacon of hope for thousands of parents paying an average of almost £15,000 a year to nurseries and childminders. Two years on, the rollout of what's commonly known as the 'free hours' scheme in England is almost complete. From September, eligible working parents will be able to access 30 hours of childcare per week during term-time (for 38 weeks), paid for by the government, for their children from the age of nine months to four. Only it hasn't been the panacea that many had hoped, and there are a number of hurdles still to overcome. Our education correspondent, Vanessa Clarke, has this analysis for BBC InDepth. BBC InDepth is the home of the best news analysis, with fresh perspectives that challenge assumptions and deep reporting on the biggest issues of the day. You can find more articles from InDepth - like this one - on the BBC News website and app. (Image: Getty)