Education secretary Bridget Phillipson is asking the UK’s competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), to review hidden charges faced by parents using government-funded free childcare. The move follows concerns that families are still being charged extra costs even when they receive expanded funded childcare hours. Phillipson’s request includes examining nursery practices such as non-refundable deposits, compulsory add-ons, and restrictions linked to government-funded childcare places. The review is intended to assess whether these practices lead to unfair costs or limit how parents can use funded hours. The request is set against the government’s broader childcare expansion, which aims to increase the availability of funded childcare. By involving the CMA, the government is seeking scrutiny of the competitive and consumer impact of the additional charges reported by parents, including how such fees are applied and whether they are connected to access to funded provision. The CMA will consider the practices highlighted by the education secretary as part of its work.