Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government how they intend to ensure sufficient childcare availability following the expansion of the 30 hours free childcare offer to parents on Universal Credit; and what assessment they have made of where they will recruit additional early years staff from to support this change.

Local authorities are responsible for ensuring there are sufficient places to deliver the childcare entitlements and give every child the best start in life. The department maintains close contact with local authorities to monitor sufficiency of childcare in their area, ensuring challenges are identified early and support is provided where needed.

We continue to work with local authorities to strengthen sufficiency planning, and improve data on the availability of suitable places, including for those needing specialist support.

We have seen significant growth in the early years workforce and continue to help people discover rewarding early years careers through the ‘Do something Big’ recruitment campaign, building on our pilot to offer financial incentives to attract and retain the best educators and introducing flexibilities for childminders.

We also recently published our early years funding consultation, which sets out our vision for a reformed early years funding system for the early years entitlements, alongside proposals for transition in 2027/28.