Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help increase the (a) availability and (b) affordability of childcare in Ashfield constituency.

It is the government’s ambition that all families have access to high quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, improving the life chances for every child and the work choices for every parent.

From April 2024, working parents of 2 year olds have been able to access 15 hours of government-funded childcare per week (over 38 weeks a year) from the term after their child’s birthday. From September 2024, this was extended to parents of children aged nine months and above and, from September 2025, working parents will be able to access 30 hours per week (over 38 weeks a year) for children from age nine months to when they start school. The department is also growing the provision of wraparound childcare, which is before and after school provision, for primary school children.

In 2024/25, we expect to provide over £1.7 billion to support local authorities and providers deliver the childcare expansion, which will rise in 2027/28 to over £4.1 billion. By the same year we expect to be providing over £8 billion every year overall on new and existing early years entitlements.

For Nottinghamshire County Council, the hourly rate for 3 to 4 year olds is £5.47, which is an increase of 5.2%. For 2 year olds, this rate is £7.63 per hour and for under 2s, £10.38 per hour.

The government has also committed to utilising unused space in primary schools to create much needed places in 3,000 nurseries, working in partnership with all parts of the sector and local authorities.

In addition to the entitlements, parents may also be eligible for childcare support through Tax-Free Childcare or Universal Credit Childcare. Parents can check what childcare support they are entitled to via the Childcare Choices website, which is accessible at: https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

The department has regular contact with each local authority in England on their sufficiency of childcare and any issues they are facing, including supporting them through our childcare delivery support contract where appropriate.