Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of universally expanding the 30 hours of government funded childcare scheme.

Accessible and high quality early education and childcare is a crucial part of giving every child the best start in life, boosting children’s life chances and giving parents work choices.

The government is committed to delivering the expansion of the 30 hours free childcare offer, so that from September 2025 eligible working parents in England will be able to access 30 hours of free childcare per week, over 38 weeks of the year, from the term after their child turns nine months old to when they start school. However, this government has been clear that this will be tough to deliver as we inherited a pledge with no plan behind it. That is why the department is doing everything it can, working closely with childcare providers, to deliver the additional places the sector will need from September 2025.

All three and four year-old children are eligible for the universal 15 hours free early education entitlement from the term starting on or after 1 September, 1 January or 1 April following their third birthday.