Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Sara Britcliffe and Laura Farris

Monday 12th October 2020 Commons Chamber

[Sara Britcliffe (Hyndburn) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to help support parents’ access to childcare.

[Laura Farris (Newbury) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to help support parents’ access to childcare.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Vicky Ford)]

High-quality childcare supports children’s development and helps parents to work, and we are therefore continuing to bulk-buy childcare hours from the sector at pre-covid levels, even if providers had closed due to the pandemic. Some 708,000 children attended an early years setting on 1 October, which is an increase of about 300,000 compared with the end of the summer term. We have also encouraged schools to ensure that after-school and breakfast clubs are reopening.