The UK government's rollout of extended free childcare has sparked a nationwide debate. Starting April 1, 2024, eligible working parents of 2-year-olds can now access 15 hours of government-funded childcare each week. This initiative is part of a broader expansion plan, which includes raising the child benefit threshold to £60,000 from April 6, 2024, and extending 15 hours of childcare to eligible parents of children from 9 months old in September 2024. The government claims this expansion will save working parents an average of £6,900 a year and help 60,000 more people return to work, while changes in child benefit could save parents £1,300 a year. However, childcare providers and parents have raised concerns over the feasibility of the scheme, citing a lack of funding, insufficient staffing, and the potential for nurseries to go bust. Labour has criticized the Conservative government for a 'childcare pledge without a plan,' pointing to a decrease in childcare places by 1,000 and accusing the government of causing chaos in the sector, despite an increase in childcare places and staff numbers last year by 15,100 and 12,900 respectively. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak have defended the policy, with Sunak promoting it as a step towards a 'brighter future' for families and an economic growth strategy.
Sir Keir Starmer slammed for 'uncertainty' as Labour refuses to guarantee free childcare hours https://t.co/9GWl5ZouME
Free childcare rollout defended by government https://t.co/QtAhA1w5yN
15 months ago Labour promised their childcare plan would be 'like the creation of the NHS'. In reality, they have no plan. And as 150,000 parents start benefitting this month from the first 15 free hours of childcare for their 2 yr olds, Labour now need to answer these Qs 👇 https://t.co/CwnoNXi4i3 https://t.co/EtTqFeeLj5
Rishi Sunak insists he's delivering on his childcare pledge as first parents benefit from 15 hours of free care - but Labour claim the sector has been left in 'chaos' with huge waiting lists and nurseries warning they could go bust https://t.co/famL0sYWli https://t.co/xH3VriPLSI
We’re undertaking the biggest expansion of childcare ever - that’s @Conservatives in action in Government - a huge help for working families Sir @Keir_Starmer’s @UKLabour won’t back it. They won’t commit to keeping it if they win the general election Sources: Guardian… https://t.co/47s9Q2VIeT
'We have worked with 9,000 businesses to make sure that we have got the rates right. To make sure it's sustainable, and that they're offering free places to parents.' @GillianKeegan discusses the govt's extended free childcare rollout https://t.co/rxiXlK8mW7 📺Sky 501 and YT https://t.co/UZ6zVNsgpn
Rishi Sunak promotes Tories’ rollout of 15 hours’ free childcare for two-year-olds – UK politics live https://t.co/J7Txk7IXjN
Working parents of two-year-olds are now able to access 15 hours a week of government-funded childcare. Education Secretary @GillianKeegan insists the govt's plan is 'on track'. But @CharlotteHawkns points out that parents are finding it difficult to find the funded places. https://t.co/Z6z14VQ4FC
🔵 Rishi Sunak has vowed his childcare revolution will help to grow the economy while building a “brighter future” for families https://t.co/F6bjNjV0IZ
Education Secretary @GillianKeegan joins Sky's @KayBurley to discuss the government's new funding which they say will allow parents to save thousands in childcare costs. 🕐 8:45 am 👉 #Breakfast 📺 Sky 501 / Freeview 233 📱 Watch live: https://t.co/jCgTS4BQOp
Whilst this @Conservatives government is rolling-out the largest expansion of childcare in our country’s history, Labour are refusing to come clean what their plan is for childcare. My letter to the Shadow Education Secretary and Shadow Chancellor 👇 https://t.co/qei2KiHHR5
Being a working parent is one of the hardest jobs around, but we’re helping to make it that little bit easier. Our expansion of childcare support is now underway, with eligible working parents of 2-year-olds across England getting help with the cost of childcare ⬇️
🔵 Gillian Keegan said she believed there will be enough childcare places to keep up with demand as the Government rolls out the first phase of a major expansion. Follow the latest on our live blog ⬇️ https://t.co/AKEt71WiyA https://t.co/HlrSHCwJ5K
This week marks the start of the rollout of this government's record expansion of childcare. By the end of our rollout, this will save working parents on average £6,900 a year, helping 60,000 more people back into work. Read more here 👇 https://t.co/XThBU5zOUj https://t.co/VD21JdxyMf
'This funding is not financially viable for nurseries' On #BBCBreakfast Sally asks a viewers question to Education Secretary Gillian Keegan after parents in England were given access to 15 hours of funded weekly childcare for their two-year-olds https://t.co/QTNCm5HkJl https://t.co/pUpnIftZ8D
Opinion | Labour’s wait and see approach to childcare is an insult to parents, writes @graceholliday They’ve torn apart the Conservative offering, yet what would they do instead? https://t.co/EUHdBLfZhr
Major free childcare rules change will see thousands more entitled - what you need to know https://t.co/MMeGVj2Dpm https://t.co/Byv2kAOqD8
The governments childcare policy has pushed up demand without improving supply, so nurseries have increased prices to cover the costs. Even if you managed to get a place, unless it’s for a two year old, it’s likely you are going to have to pay more for it thanks to the Tories. https://t.co/tqHVoliH8A
The Tories have no plan for their childcare pledge being rolled out today - it’s causing chaos. Tell Rishi Sunak to guarantee the childcare hours promised 👉 https://t.co/0rjXXDDFih https://t.co/VyE49JzdrF
Contrary to the sniping from Labour, which promised a childcare plan 'like the creation of the NHS' 15 months ago but still has no plan today, here's what actually happened to childcare places and staff numbers last year - both up, by 15,100 and 12,900 https://t.co/scXekUwDJg https://t.co/Pd3NFqG5J8
Great news for families! ✅ 1 APRIL 2024 = eligible working parents of 2-year-olds GET 15 hours childcare support ✅ 6 APRIL 2024 = child benefit threshold INCREASED to £60,000 ✅ SEPTEMBER 2024 = 15 hours childcare EXTENDED to eligible parents of children from 9-months old.
📣 “We need a proper workforce strategy." @politicshome spoke to the founder of @PregnantScrewed ahead of the expansion of free childcare provisions https://t.co/qcLgmwWbHN
Labour has dubbed the government's new childcare policy 'a pledge without a plan'. Enterprise minister @kevinhollinrake says this is "pretty rich coming from Keir Starmer". https://t.co/oIU9isx5uB 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube https://t.co/UuwE8bYRE4
Watch Sky News Breakfast live as the government's extended free childcare rollout begins amid warnings of a lack of funding and not enough staff to fulfil the pledge⤵️ More: https://t.co/wl2yZ5D4Vk https://t.co/MGXTqPyrHy
Extended free childcare rollout begins amid concern over costs and staffing Read more⬇️ https://t.co/CsZioOiYlu
From today parents in England can claim 15 hours of free childcare every week for their 2-year-olds. The government hopes it'll help people return to work but critics say families are struggling to find places and nurseries are warning they're on the brink of going bust. https://t.co/eTSQ9pVEHK
Government’s ‘childcare chaos’ leaving families in England facing steep costs https://t.co/d682Zv1Rxv
Childcare places ‘fall by 1,000’ as Labour accuses ministers of ‘botched’ expansion https://t.co/OidNzn10jx https://t.co/oSven7NFA3
Labour have accused the Tories of having a "childcare pledge without a plan" after place numbers fell as new entitlements come into effect https://t.co/9XL8wbRCmC
Government's new free childcare scheme: Parents and providers raise concerns ahead of Monday rollout https://t.co/FssaMvnLmW
Two thirds of parents are unaware that two year-olds could be eligible for 15 hours of free childcare from this week, a survey has found https://t.co/WgOcQ0MaHC
Child benefit changes in April could save parents £1,300 a year https://t.co/C2w8jUJ75N
Childcare providers in London are warning the government's expansion of free nursery hours will leave them struggling to cover costs. https://t.co/wNhW6CoZJc
👶 @Joeli_Brearley from @pregnantscrewed said the government needs to go further with its free childcare provisions and increase the 3-4 year old entitlement "That's the most urgent thing that needs to happen and it needs to happen right now.” https://t.co/qcLgmwWbHN