Tory plans to slash costs for parents by creating French-style childminder agencies have been branded "simply laughable" by early years chiefs.
Liz Truss is eyeing an overhaul of the childcare system to get more parents back to work as part of her plans to kickstart economic growth.
The Prime Minister is said to be pushing for the agency model, which she came up with when she was Children's Minister, which can act as a one stop shop for childminders to register, train and get help finding a job.
