Hundreds of thousands of parents of children from nine months old take up new 15 hours of early education this month, following rollout from Labour government
From this month, hundreds of thousands of eligible working parents of children from 9-months-old can access 15 hours of government-funded early education per week, following the successful rollout by the Labour government.
For parents of primary school aged children, new “wraparound” childcare places will be available before and after school, sounding the starting gun on Labour’s long-term reform to deliver an early education and childcare system from the end of parental leave to the end of primary school, boosting parents’ work choices and children’s life chances.
This comes as the government looks ahead to delivering the expansion of 30 hours funded from September 2025.
Labour is now taking the action needed to help deliver the additional places needed and will set out further plans to deliver the government’s commitment to use primary school classrooms to create new nurseries.
Preet Kaur Gill, MP for Birmingham, Edgbaston, said:
“I welcome the government’s expanded childcare offer to help working parents.
“Labour inherited a pledge without a plan, but we have put our shoulder to the wheel to fulfil the promises made to parents. Given the deterioration of early years by the last Conservative government, I welcome the Labour government’s offer supporting children and families in Birmingham, Edgbaston.”
“Parents returning to work without worrying about childcare is important.”
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:
“I’ve already said that early years is my number one priority. That’s why we are delivering the childcare rollout I know will be such a help to hard-pressed parents, with 15 hours of early education per week for 9-month-olds and above from next week, alongside more wraparound childcare for school children.
“This inherited plan comes with significant delivery challenges - I must warn that for some parents it will not be plain sailing - and while I am excited to see children starting nursery for the first time, or parents being able to increase their working hours, the work for government starts now.
“Over the next year, I will be working flat out with my team to ensure the next phase of the rollout is possible - doubling parents’ childcare entitlements to 30 hours a week.”
Jason Elsom, Chief Executive of Parentkind said:
“We welcome all help for families to ease the burden on family finances at a time when many families are really struggling.
“Parents tell us that childcare costs are a major concern, and they support action to bring costs down and help families at that crucial time between the end of maternity leave and previous financial support kicking in. It is right we do everything we can to support parents, particularly when children are young.”
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