UK to Probe Childcare Market

The United Kingdom government has directed the competition watchdog to examine the childcare market following reports that nurseries in England are charging additional fees to bridge a funding gap.

Education Secretary Phillipson has requested that the regulator review hidden costs associated with childcare, according to the BBC.

The investigation will include a probe into the role of private equity within the childcare sector, as reported by Bloomberg.

The Financial Times reports that the competition watchdog is set to examine the broader childcare market as part of this review.

Campaigners have stated that nurseries in England are implementing extra fees to cover gaps in funding, according to The Guardian.

The initiative by Phillipson to involve the watchdog in reviewing the market has been characterized as odd by critics, as reported by ITVX.