Damian Hinds has welcomed the government’s plans to double free childcare for hardworking families, which will benefit up to 90,000 parents in the South East.
The Childcare Bill, introduced this week, offers 30 hours of free childcare per week during term time for all working parents of 3 and 4 year olds, which is twice the current entitlement. This will be available for families where both parents are in work or a lone parent is in work. This amounts to 1,140 hours of free childcare per year and is worth around £5,000 a year, including the £2,500 parents can already save from existing free childcare offers.
During the election campaign the Conservative Party pledged to introduce the measure in 2017. However, David Cameron has announced that the government intends to introduce the changes for some families a year earlier than planned, with rollout in some parts of the country to begin from September 2016, ahead of its full introduction in 2017.
In addition, the government committed this week to increase the average childcare funding rates paid to providers (the hourly funding provided for each free place). The Department of Education will begin a review of this before the summer. This review will ensure that the hourly rate for the childcare entitlement established is both fair for providers and delivers value for money to the taxpayer.
Damian said:
“Childcare costs can place a significant financial burden on families, and this can affect decisions about whether it is affordable for both parents to work.
“This reform will lessen these worries about cost, making it easier for those parents who want to work to do so. The government are going further than ever before to give people the freedom to make choices about their career after having a child, whether they want to go back to work, or do more hours, or pursue a different career path.”