Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance his Department has issued to Local Authorities on the procurement of IT systems to deliver 30 free hours of childcare.

The arrangements between software suppliers and individual local authorities are often unique and systems, to support the delivery of 30 hours free childcare, are procured through an open market. Due to the commercial implications, the department remains unbiased and does not provide procurement advice.

The department has provided, through the Digital Accelerate Fund and the Delivery Support Fund, an additional £3.5 million to help local authorities improve localised IT systems for 30 hours. Local authorities were responsible for procuring any additional system functionality they required.