Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of childcare provision.

Ensuring that parents are able to access affordable and high quality childcare is a priority for this government. Our focus in reforming the system will be to ensure that there are greater and more equal opportunities to access early education for every family, and that there are greater opportunities for children to thrive and develop. As an initial step, we are progressing work to deliver new places in 3,000 nurseries through upgrading space in primary schools.

It is our 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 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 9 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 9 months to when they start school.

The government has committed to continue to roll out the expanded childcare entitlements for eligible working parents of children aged from nine months. We are also growing the provision of ‘wraparound’ before and after school provision of childcare 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, rising, 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.

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

The government is committed to delivering a modern childcare system from the end of parental leave to the end of primary school, providing every child with a firm foundation which sets them up for life and ensures parents are able to work the jobs and hours they choose effectively breaking down the barriers to opportunity for every family.

Under Section 6 of the Childcare Act 2006, local authorities are responsible for ensuring that the provision of childcare is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents in their area. The department has regular contact with each local authority in England about their sufficiency of childcare and any issues they are facing. Where local authorities report sufficiency challenges, departmental officials discuss with them what action they are taking to address those issues, and whether they need any additional support.