Teachers: Training

(asked on 5th July 2023) - View Source

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an estimate with Cabinet colleagues of the number of PGCE students who (a) work in addition to their studies and (b) have children under the age of five that will not be eligible to access the expansion of the 30 hours free childcare offer in 2024-2025.


Answered by
Claire Coutinho Portrait
Claire Coutinho
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
This question was answered on 11th July 2023

The department does not hold data on the number of students who are ineligible for 30 hours free childcare.

In the Spring Budget 2023, the government announced a number of transformative reforms to childcare for parents, children and the economy. By 2027/28, the government will expect to be spending in excess of £8 billion every year on free hours and early education, helping working families with their childcare costs. This represents the single biggest investment in childcare in England ever.

The announcement included the expansion of the 30 hours free childcare offer, through which eligible working parents in England will be able to access 30 hours of free childcare per week, for 38 weeks per year from when their child is 9 months old, to when they start school. The key objective of this measure is to support parental participation in the labour market, which is why the offer is conditional on work.

All students who work in addition to their studies and earn the equivalent of at least 16 hours a week at national minimum/living wage, and under £100,000 adjusted net income per year, will be eligible for this offer. If they are unable to meet this threshold, they will remain eligible for the universal 15 hours of free early education, which is available to all 3 and 4 year olds regardless of family circumstances.

The department recognises the value of parents continuing in education and provide a range of support for students in further or higher education to support them with childcare.

Support available to full-time students with dependent children includes the Childcare Grant and Parents’ Learning Allowance. Entitlement to these grants is based on a student’s household income.

For additional financial support, since September 2020, all eligible full-time nursing, midwifery, paramedic and other allied health profession students have been able to receive a non-repayable training grant through the NHS Learning Support Fund of £5,000 per academic year. Eligible full-time students with child dependants can also access a further £2,000 per academic year through the Learning and Support Fund. Eligible students studying part-time receive a pro-rated amount of support depending on their intensity of study compared to a full-time course.

Further information on the childcare offers available to parents can be found at: https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk.

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