This petition was submitted during the 2015-2017 parliament
Petition Free childcare for 2 year olds to include parents who are both working full time
Currently, parents who are claiming government benefits, are also entitled to 15 hours a week of free childcare once their child is 2.
We would like parents who work full time to be offered the same help towards payment of their childcare costs.
More details
Our main concern is that the parents who do work full time, are spending a large chunk of their income paying to put their children into childcare, just so they can go to work to pay their bills.
We propose that families where BOTH parents are working at least 35 hours a week each, are also entitled to the 15 hours a week of free childcare.
A realistic cap on the household income is acceptable.
This petition is closed This petition ran for 6 months
Government responded
This response was given on 29 January 2016
The main focus for the two-year-old entitlement is to reduce the attainment gap between the most disadvantaged children and their better off peers and we are therefore targeting this group of children
Read the response in full
The Government remains committed to supporting all parents with the cost of childcare and is investing more than any previous Government to do so.
All three- and four-year-olds are eligible for 15 hours a week of free childcare per week; as are the 40% most disadvantaged two-year-olds.
Above the free childcare entitlements, parents are also eligible for 70% of their childcare costs (below an upper limit) for those on lower incomes through the childcare element of working tax credits.
The Government is continuing to invest in childcare for working parents by:
• Introducing an additional 15 hours of free childcare for working parents of three and four year olds; making these parents eligible for 30 hours of free childcare from 2017
• Increasing support for childcare costs to 85% under Universal Credit from April 2016; and
• Extending shared parental leave which was introduced from April 2015, to grandparents.
The 2-year-old entitlement is targeted at the 40% most disadvantaged children. This is because the attainment gap between disadvantaged children and their richer peers begins to appear as early as 22 months. Participation in early education at age two delivers greater benefits to disadvantaged children than early education at age three or four, but they are less likely to access formal early education than their more affluent peers.
The two-year-old entitlement therefore, unlike the extended entitlement for three- and four-year-olds, is not in place to act as a work incentive, but rather to close the attainment gap between the most disadvantaged and their better off peers.
The total Government spend on childcare will increase from £5 billion in 2015-16 to over £6 billion by 2019-20. This includes almost £4 billion for the current free entitlement for three- and four-year-olds, the most disadvantaged two–year-olds and the early years pupil premium (EYPP) for three- and four-year-olds, as well as funding for our extended entitlement.
Department for Education
Related activity
MPs want to hear your views on childcare
On Monday 21 November at 4.30pm, MPs will debate e-petition 132140 on free childcare for working parents. The debate will be led by Helen Jones MP, Chair of the Petitions Committee
View petition 132140: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/132140
Get involved:
The Petitions Committee invite you to inform the debate by joining the conversation on the House of Commons Facebook page from Friday 11 to Tuesday 15 November:
Share your thoughts and experiences on the following questions:
• How easy have you found it to find suitable childcare?
• What are your thoughts on the cost of childcare? Is the Government giving parents the right support with childcare costs?
• Are there problems with the availability of qualified childcare staff?
On Tuesday 15 November from 4 to 5pm, Helen Jones MP will be joining the discussion live and responding to your comments.
Join the conversation on the House of Commons Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1803311713216874/?active_tab=discussion
Your comments will be shared with MPs taking part in the debate.
You can find out more information on the Parliament website: http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/have-your-say-on-laws/digital-debates/childcare/?utm_source=petition&utm_campaign=114073&utm_medium=email&utm_content=ddpage
This online discussion is organised by Parliament's Digital Outreach Team which works to involve the public in the work of the UK Parliament.
Find out more about how you can get involved with Parliament: http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/?utm_source=petition&utm_campaign=114073&utm_medium=email&utm_content=getinvolved