Petition Extend 15 hours free childcare to all 2-year old children

A group of MPs called the Education Committee are looking into support for childcare and the early years.

The issues the Committee is considering include:

• How affordable and easy to understand the provision of childcare in England is
• Whether current entitlements are providing parents and carers with sufficient childcare
• The workforce challenges faced by early years providers
• Whether the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) system is meeting the needs of pupils with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND)

Read the Committee's press notice announcing this work for more information.

What happens next?

The Committee is going to conduct 'evidence sessions' where they will hear from experts in the sector and representatives from the Government.

An 'evidence session' is a hearing where MPs ask key experts, such as Ministers or campaigners, questions on a particular topic. These experts are called 'witnesses' and they help MPs to gain a deeper understanding of the topic.

The Committee will then consider all the evidence it has taken and publish a report of its findings with recommendations to the Government on any changes that might be needed.

For more information about the inquiry, visit the Committee's inquiry page.

What is the Education Committee?

The Education Committee is a cross-party group of MPs that look into the work of the Department for Education, covering children's social care, schools, colleges, the early years and higher education.

• Find out more about the Committee on their website
• Follow the committee on Twitter for updates on its work

The Education Committee is a select committee.

• Find out how select committees work

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On Tuesday 21 February, MPs debated the affordability and availability of childcare.

• Watch the debate
• Read a transcript of the debate

This was a Westminster Hall debate, led by Ruth Cadbury MP. Claire Coutinho MP, the Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing, responded to the debate.

What are Westminster Hall debates?

Westminster Hall is the second Chamber of the House of Commons.

Westminster Hall debates give MPs an opportunity to raise local or national issues and receive a response from a government minister. Any MP can take part in a Westminster Hall debate.

Debates in Westminster Hall take place on ‘general debate' motions expressed in neutral terms. These motions are worded ‘That this House has considered [a specific matter]'.

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On Wednesday 15 March, the Government announced that working parents in England will be able to access 30 hours of free childcare per week, for 38 weeks of the year, from when their child is 9 months old to when they start school.

This will be rolled out in stages:

• From April 2024, all working parents of 2-year-olds will be able to access 15 hours per week
• From September 2024, all working parents of children aged 9 months up to 3 years old will be able to access 15 hours per week
• From September 2025 all working parents of children aged 9 months up to 3 years old will be able to access 30 hours free childcare per week

Find out more in the Government's Spring Budge factsheet.

The Government also announced that it would be changing the staff-to-child ratios for 2 year olds from 1:4 to 1:5.

Find out more about the outcome of the childcare regulatory changes consultation .

The Chair of the Petitions Committee, Catherine McKinnell MP said:

"The Petitions Committee over several years of debate and public engagement, has heard from tens of thousands of parents struggling to afford suitable childcare.

“I’m proud the Petitions Committee has been able to give these tireless campaigners and industry experts a platform, and I thank everyone who has campaigned on this issue, especially those who have started and signed e-petitions about childcare.

"Yet – there is still more to do."

• Read Catherine's full response to the Budget announcement.

What is the Petitions Committee?

The Petitions Committee is a group of cross-party MPs that oversees petitions started on petition.parliament.uk

Follow the Committee on Twitter for real-time updates on its work.

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