This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament

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Petition Extend 30 hours free childcare to student midwives/nurses/paramedics

Most NHS midwifery, nursing and paramedic programmes are full-time courses running 46 weeks of the year. They are hard work and students play a vital role. However, students are not classed as workers, and are therefore not entitled to the 30 hours of free childcare available to working parents.

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I am working just as hard as I was when I was employed by my local police force 12 months ago and yet as I am now considered a student and not a worker I can no longer claim the 30 hours free childcare for my 3 year old. There are shortages of many NHS staff so I can’t understand why the Government does not make it easier for parents to study for these roles.

Equivalent training roles for police are apprentices. These are treated as workers, so can claim the 30 free hours. This isn't fair given the equal value of all emergency service staff.

This petition is closed This petition ran for 6 months

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Parliament debated this topic

This topic was debated on 20 November 2023

Government responded

This response was given on 21 October 2022

Whilst students are not eligible for 30 hours free childcare, we provide a range of support for high quality early education for all parents including those studying for healthcare qualifications.

30 hours free childcare is an entitlement for working parents of three- and four-year-olds. It aims to help with the costs of childcare so that parents can take up paid work if they want to or work additional hours. The Childcare Bill policy statement (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childcare-bill-policy-statement), published in December 2015, is clear that students are not eligible for 30 hours free childcare. We recognise the value of parents continuing in education, however, and provide a range of support other than 30 hours for those in further or higher education.

Students are eligible for the universal 15 hours of free early education which is available to all three- and four-year olds regardless of family circumstances.

There are also forms of support provided by the government specifically for students, including those with children. More information on this help for students can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/support-while-you-study

This support includes the Childcare Grant and Parents’ Learning Allowance. These schemes are available for full-time students with dependent children, including students on healthcare-related courses.

The Childcare Grant is available for parents in Higher Education undertaking a full-time undergraduate course and is paid to help with weekly childcare costs. The amount of childcare grant payable in 2022/23 will be based on 85% of actual childcare costs, subject to a maximum grant of £183.75 per week for one child only or £315.03 per week for two or more children.

The Parents’ Learning Allowance is for full-time undergraduate students with one or more dependent children. For the academic year 2022/23 students could receive up to £1,863 a year depending on household income.

For financial support in addition to help with childcare costs, since September 2020 all eligible nursing, midwifery and allied health profession students have received a non-repayable training grant of a minimum of £5,000 per academic year. Eligible students with child dependants can also access a further £2,000 per academic year.

The government appreciates the efforts of healthcare professionals in contributing to the NHS across the country. We are pleased that parents continue to see training, or retraining, into healthcare professions as an option for them.

Department for Education

Childcare costs debated by MPs

On Tuesday 7 June, MPs debated the cost of childcare and children's education recovery. This was an Opposition Day debate on a motion determined by the Labour Party.

Watch the debate: https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/396f4020-be34-46b4-9cb4-d850fa2e5a03?in=16:12:54

Read a transcript of the debate: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2022-06-07/debates/7018B655-BB9C-44A1-A093-3698005106A8/Children%E2%80%99SEducationRecoveryAndChildcareCosts

During the debate, MPs highlighted concerns about the affordability and availability of childcare, and the impact this has on parents' (especially mothers') ability to remain in employment.

MPs also discussed the Government's plans to help children at school catch up on their education following the disruption caused by the covid-19 pandemic, support for the early years sector, and young people's mental health.

What are Opposition Days?

Opposition days are days allocated in the House of Commons for the discussion of subjects chosen by the opposition (non-government) parties.

Find out more about Opposition days: https://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/opposition-days

Get involved in the work of the UK Parliament

Sign up to the UK Parliament newsletter for the latest information on how to get involved and make a difference: https://parliament.us16.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3ad7e4c57a864f07e4db008c4&id=26d0645ea9

Share your views on pay and financial support for healthcare students

The MPs on the Petitions Committee have scheduled a debate on three petitions:

Ensure student nurses are paid for placement hours

Extend 30 hours free childcare to student midwives/nurses/paramedics

Minimum wage pay for all healthcare students for placement hours worked!

Marsha de Cordova MP, a member of the Committee, will open the debate, which will take place on Monday 11 September.

Share your views

To inform the debate, we would like to hear from you about your experiences and views on pay and financial support for healthcare students.

You can share your views with us by completing this survey: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=nt3mHDeziEC-Xo277ASzSpMLsAawCSdBvMh9cdt5o9ZURTFYREk3MlNGTEhFNDE4OEczODlTWUVBNC4u

The survey will close on Tuesday 29 August at 10am.

Your responses will be anonymous. A summary of responses will be published on the Parliament website. It will also be shared with MPs and may be referred to in the debate or within other parliamentary documents. Please don't share anything that may identify you.

Watch the debate

The debate will take place on Monday 11 September at 4.30pm.

What are petition debates?

Petition debates are ‘general’ debates which allow MPs from all parties to discuss the important issues raised by one or more petitions, and put their concerns to Government Ministers.

Petition debates don’t end with a vote to implement the request of a petition. This means that MPs will not vote on the requests of the petitions at the end of the debate.

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Debate on pay and financial support for healthcare students postponed

The debate on three petitions relating to pay and financial support for healthcare students has been postponed. It was scheduled for Monday 11 September.

We will let you know as soon as we have rescheduled this debate, and share links to watch the debate or read the transcript.

What did you tell us about pay and financial support for healthcare students?

To inform the debate on this petition, which will take place on Monday 20 November, the Petitions Committee created a survey about pay and financial support for healthcare students.

Thank you to everyone who completed the survey.

The debate will be opened by Marsha De Cordova MP, a member of the Petitions Committee.

What are petitions debates?

Petitions debates are ‘general’ debates which allow MPs from all parties to discuss the important issues raised by one or more petitions and put their concerns to Government Ministers.

Petition debates don’t end with a vote to implement the request of a petition. This means that MPs will not vote on pay and financial support for healthcare students at the end of the debate.

The Petitions Committee can only schedule debates on petitions started on petition.parliament.uk

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Government responds to Education Committee's report on childcare

MPs on the House of Commons Education Committee called for action by the Government to help support the childcare and early years sector.

Government response to the Committee's report on supporting the childcare and early years sector

In July 2023, the Committee published a report on supporting the childcare and early years sector and made recommendations to increase choice, availability and flexibility for parents.

You can read a summary of the Committee's report, and the Committee's full report on its website.

The Committee also had a debate on its report on 16 October where it pressed the Government on these issues. You can read the debate here.

The Government responded to the Committee's report on 17 October. The Government fully accepted four out of 23 of the Committee's recommendations and confirmed that it is:

  • Engaging with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and a range of housing sector stakeholders to identify and reduce property related barriers to childminding
  • Developing a national campaign "to boost interest in the sector"
  • Removing barriers to entering the sector by ensuring qualifications are suitable and easily understood
  • Introducing new types of apprenticeship for becoming a childcare professional

You can read the Government's response here.

What is the Education Committee?

The Education Committee is a cross-party group of backbench MPs that scrutinises the administration, spending and policy of the Government’s Department for Education.

The Education Committee is a select committee. Find out how select committees work.

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