Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between James Daly and Claire Coutinho

Monday 17th April 2023 Commons Chamber

[Greg Smith (Buckingham) (Con)]

16. What steps her Department is taking to increase early years provision.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Claire Coutinho)]

We are removing one of the biggest barriers to parents working by vastly increasing the amount of free childcare that working families can access. By 2027-28, we expect to be spending in excess of £8 billion every year on free hours and early education, helping working families with their childcare costs.

[James Daly]

As chair of the APPG on nursery schools, nursery and reception classes, may I welcome the extended entitlement introduced in the spring Budget, but will the supplementary funding to nursery schools be increased to cover the total entitlement, not just the 15 hours universal entitlement?

[Claire Coutinho]

The Government recognise that maintained nursery schools make a valuable contribution, improving the lives of some of our most disadvantaged children. We will provide further details on funding arrangements for the new entitlements for 2024-25 in due course.