- The Conservative Government is rolling out the biggest shake up in childcare provision since 2017, helping with the cost of living and getting more people into work to grow the economy.
- The Chancellor extended the provision of 30 free hours of childcare a week to all working parents of children aged 9 months until they start school – helping more parents take on the work that is right for them.
- Reforms also include increasing the hourly rate paid to nurseries, paying Universal Credit claimants their childcare entitlement upfront, rather in arrears and increasing the maximum entitlement to £950 for one child and £1,629 for two children – helping more Universal Credit claimants into work.
Bim Afolami MP welcomes the 30 hours of free childcare the Conservative Government is providing to working parents of children aged 9 months to 4-year-old.
This will deliver the biggest shake up in childcare provision since 2017, helping more people across Hitchin, Harpenden and the villages with the cost of living and into work to grow our economy.
These reforms will deliver for 1,314 families across Hitchin, Harpenden and the villages with children aged 9 months to 4-year-old.
Working parents of 2-year-olds can access 15 hours per week from April 2024 and from September 2024 all working parents of children aged 9 months to 3-year-old can access 15 hours per week. From September 2025 all working parents of children aged 9 months to 3-year-old can access 30 hours of free childcare per week.
The package of reforms also delivers further for parents on Universal Credit by paying their childcare costs upfront, rather than in arrears, helping millions of low-income families manage their family budgets. The entitlement for Universal Credit claimants will also increase to the maximum entitlement to £950 for one child and £1,629 for two children – helping more Universal Credit claims into work.
The Chancellor’s reforms go further to support the childcare sector.
This includes increasing the hourly rates paid to providers of free childcare to £204 million next year, increasing to £288 million by 2024-25, introducing market reforms to the sector by changing ratios for 2-year-old ratios from 1:4 to 1:5 and allowing childminders to care for more than three children under five if some children are siblings, or their own child.
The package also introduces childminders grant to support childminders with start-up costs, incentivizing more talented childcare providers to the sector. This amounts to £600 for individual applicants and up to £1,200 for applicants who apply through a childminder agency.
This extensive package of reforms breaks down many of the barriers faced by both working parents and the childcare sector. By delivering on these reforms the Conservative Government are helping parents across the country and 1,314 families in Hitchin, Harpenden and the villages into work, delivering on the Prime Minister’s promise to grow the economy.
Commenting, Bim Afolami MP said:
“Making childcare more accessible and more affordable for parents is key to getting more people into work to help grow our economy.
“I am delighted the Chancellor is rolling out 30 hours free childcare for all parents, until their child goes to school at aged four. This will help 1,314 families across Hitchin, Harpenden and the villages.
“By removing these barriers that often stop parents from returning to work, or taking on more responsibilities, ensures working families can earn more money without paying for more childcare.”
Commenting, Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt said:
“Getting more people into work is vital to achieving our three promises: to halve inflation, grow the economy and reduce debt.
“This package will help thousands of parents back into work as we push to grow our economy.
“Only a Conservative government can be trusted to get more people into our workforce and give more people the security of their own income.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
- The Conservative Government are extending the provision of 30 free hours of childcare a week to all working parents. Working parents of 2-year-olds can access 15 hours per week from April 2024 and from September 2024 all working parents of children aged 9 months to 3-year-old can access 15 hours per week. From September 2025 all working parents of children aged 9 months to 3-year-old can access 30 hours of free childcare per week.
- The Conservative Government are supporting Universal Credit claimants with the cost of childcare. The package of reforms announces the Government will pay Universal Credit childcare costs up front rather than in arrears and will increase the Universal Credit childcare cost maximum amounts to £950 for one child and £1,629 for two children.
- The Conservative Government are rolling out reforms across the childcare sector. Reforms include increasing the hourly rates paid to providers of free childcare to £204 million next year, increasing to £288 million by 2024-25, changing to 2-year-old ratios from 1:4 to 1:5 and allowing childminders to care for more than three children under five if some children are siblings, or their own child and introducing childminders grant to support childminders with start-up costs.
