Tens of Thousands of Working Parents in England to Benefit from Expanded Childcare Funding
A significant expansion of funded childcare in England is set to benefit tens of thousands of working parents, with applications now open for 30 hours of funded childcare from September. According to a recent announcement by the UK Government, eligible working parents of children who will be 9 months old before 1 September can apply for the expanded funding, which could save them up to £7,500 per child per year.
The UK Government’s latest initiative follows the successful rollout of 15 funded hours for children from 9 months last September, which has already seen 499,592 children benefiting from access to more affordable and high-quality early years education and childcare. The expansion to 30 hours of funded childcare is part of the government’s Plan for Change, which aims to increase access to childcare and give every child the best start in life.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson emphasised the importance of the expanded childcare funding, stating: "This government has a clear Plan for Change to break the unfair link between background and opportunity across this country, which starts by ensuring our children start school ready to learn. Early years is my number one priority, and making sure families are able to benefit from this rollout is a promise made, and promise kept." The UK Government’s investment in childcare has also led to the creation of hundreds of new school-based nurseries and a £2 billion extra investment compared to last year to support the existing providers in delivering the 35,000 additional staff and 70,000 places required to meet demand for September.
A recent survey conducted by the UK Government found that the rollout of funded childcare is having a significant impact on working families, particularly lower-income families. The survey revealed that one in five families earning £20,000 – £40,000 had increased their working hours thanks to the 15 hours brought in last year. Furthermore, over half of the 2,723 respondents who are planning to increase their childcare hours are intending to up their work hours too, which is expected to benefit both families and employers.
The UK Government’s expansion of funded childcare has been welcomed by various stakeholders, including Mumsnet, which has heard from countless women pushed out of work by unaffordable childcare. Justine Roberts, Founder and CEO of Mumsnet, said: "We’ve heard from countless women on Mumsnet pushed out of work by unaffordable childcare. This expansion of support is a major step in tackling that – giving parents, especially mothers, the freedom to stay in work if they choose, which benefits families and the economy."
The CBI has also welcomed the rollout of the final phase of the UK’s childcare expansion, with Matthew Percival, Director of Future of Work and Skills, stating: "It’s good to see the rollout of the final phase of the UK’s childcare expansion. The CBI made the case that expanding childcare support was good for growth because our members told us that the cost of it was preventing parents from working or taking on more hours." Additionally, Lydia Hopper, CEO of Grandir UK, supported the inclusion of free-flow outdoor space within the EYFS space requirements, highlighting the benefits of outdoor play for children’s learning and development.
In addition to the expanded childcare funding, the UK Government has also launched a consultation on how to help nurseries make better use of outdoor space for play and learning. The consultation will seek to understand whether to allow providers to include high-quality, accessible and safe outdoor space in meeting the requirements for early learning, and the appropriate conditions to be put in place should they include gardens and play areas as a full part of the early learning experience for the youngest children.
As the UK Government continues to prioritise early years education and childcare, it is clear that the expansion of funded childcare is a significant step towards creating a more equitable and supportive system for working families. With the application process now open, eligible parents are encouraged to apply for the expanded funding, which could have a significant impact on their family’s finances and childcare options.
According to the UK Government’s announcement, parents can apply for the 30 hours of funded childcare from today, 12 May. This move is set to support thousands of working parents across England, providing them with greater flexibility and helping employers access more of the talent they need to grow. The UK Government’s commitment to increasing access to childcare and education is clear, and this latest initiative is a significant step towards achieving this goal.
Sophie Lovell, from Nottingham, is one parent who has already benefited from the government’s childcare support. She said: "The government’s childcare support has been great for our family. Having my child in formal childcare has provided wonderful opportunities for her to play, learn, and grow. As a parent, balancing everything can be overwhelming, but knowing your child is supported by trained professionals makes all the difference."
The success of the rollout so far is testament to the work and commitment of nurseries, pre-schools and childminders, alongside local authorities, with 6123 of 6337 respondents who applied for government-funded hours last Autumn going on to secure a place. The UK Government’s expansion of funded childcare is a clear indication of its commitment to supporting working families and providing high-quality early years education and childcare.
