Government's Childcare Expansion

In the House of Commons debate, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education, Stephen Morgan, outlined the Government's plans to deliver additional places in school-based nurseries and address the issue of "top-up fees" for funded childcare hours. He announced a £15 million capital funding pot to support the creation of 3,000 new or expanded school-based nurseries across England, set to open from the start of the next school year. The Minister also addressed the Government's action to tackle situations where parents are facing high and additional charges on top of the funded entitlement hours, stating that such "top-up fees" are unacceptable. He further discussed the Government's commitment to delivering the expansion of funded childcare entitlements, acknowledging the significant challenges in terms of staff shortages and capacity gaps. In response, the shadow Minister, Mr Gagan Mohindra, defended the record of the previous Conservative government on childcare, highlighting their extensions of the three and four-year-old entitlement, the introduction of 15 hours of free early education for disadvantaged two-year-olds, and the doubling of the three and four-year-old entitlement to 30 hours per week for working parents. He welcomed the Government's commitment to delivering the childcare expansion but expressed disappointment over the lack of awareness among parents about the new entitlements that became available in September. The debate that followed saw contributions from various members, including Ms Stella Creasy, who praised the Minister's honesty in addressing the workforce challenges and the need for a robust strategy to attract more people to work in the early education system. The Liberal Democrat spokesperson, Ian Sollom, welcomed the Government's promise to expand access to affordable childcare and early years education, but called for a career strategy and a review of the rates paid to providers to ensure high-quality childcare. Other members, such as Sir Edward Leigh, David Burton-Sampson, and Shaun Davies, raised issues related to the role of grandparents, the prioritization of children in care and military families, and the support for childminders. The debate also touched on the need to ensure fair distribution of the new nursery places, particularly in rural areas, and the importance of targeting the measures in areas with the greatest need. Overall, the debate highlighted the Government's commitment to expanding access to affordable and high-quality early years education, while acknowledging the significant challenges inherited from the previous administration. The discussion centered around the details of the Government's plans, the need for a comprehensive workforce strategy, and the importance of ensuring that the benefits of the childcare expansion reach all communities, including the most disadvantaged.