Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will ensure that PhD students will be eligible for 30-hours free childcare.

30 hours free childcare is an entitlement for working parents of 3- and 4-year-olds. It aims to help working parents with the costs of childcare so that they can take up paid work if they want to, or work additional hours. PHD students will not, therefore, be eligible for the additional hours.

The Government does recognise the value of parents continuing in, or returning to, education and provides support to those enrolled in recognised education courses through other schemes such as the Childcare Grant, which offers parents support with up to 85% of their childcare costs depending on their household income.

All 3- and 4-year-olds are also eligible for 15 hours of funded early education a week. PHD students who work in addition to their studies and meet the income requirements will be eligible for the additional hours.