Bridget Phillipson has urged the competition watchdog to investigate hidden charges faced by parents attempting to access government-funded childcare.
Eligible working parents across England are entitled to 30 hours of free childcare per week for children aged between nine months and four years old.
However, the Department for Education said that “too many” parents report being asked to pay additional fees to secure a place.
These extra costs include waiting list deposits, compulsory add-ons, or requirements for additional hours beyond their entitlement.
A survey conducted by Ipsos in May and June 2025, involving 2,000 parents of children aged zero to four, revealed that over a quarter cited cost as the “primary barrier” to accessing their preferred childcare options.
Furthermore, nearly three-quarters of parents whose children attend formal childcare reported having to pay for extras, such as meals, drinks, snacks, nappies, sun cream, and one-off activities like special outings.
Ms Phillipson said: “I grew up in a family that knew what it meant to count every penny.
“I am so proud of the crucial difference that 30 hours funded childcare makes to family finances, saving £8,000 a year per child on average.
“The vast majority of nurseries and childminders have been brilliant in helping us deliver, but I will not accept the small minority letting families down and stopping them get what they were promised.”
In her letter to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) regulator, the education secretary asked for details about the impact of extra charges on parents and providers.
In a bid to make accessing childcare more simple for families, the government has also recently launched a digital map of providers in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset, which is due to be rolled out nationwide later in the year.
The tool is available via the Best Start in Life website.
A CMA spokesperson said: “We welcome the request from the education secretary to carry out a review into the early years childcare sector.
“The CMA has been monitoring developments and exploring the merits of work in this area.
“This is an important sector that needs to work well for families, and we will be developing a specific proposal to put to our board.”
