Free Childcare Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Free Childcare

Nic Dakin Excerpts
Tuesday 18th July 2017

(6 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Nic Dakin Portrait Nic Dakin (Scunthorpe) (Lab)
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In light of these additional difficulties in bringing in what is a very welcome policy, what additional support will the Government give to nurseries that are preparing to deliver the scheme? We need to make sure that the resources are there for delivery.

Robert Goodwill Portrait Mr Goodwill
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As I have said, we increased the funding to allow for it to be delivered; an average funding of £4.94 for each hour is now being provided. That was in direct response to the concerns of some providers about the level of funding, but I have to say that even the providers who said that the funding was not sufficient have now managed to deliver at this price. Indeed, the nursery I visited yesterday said it had surplus places before the pilot scheme was introduced, but is now full, which is great news for it in terms of its overall funding.