Simon Fell MP celebrates rollout of expanded free childcare Barrow and Furness as Conservative Government sticks to the plan to support parents and ensure a brighter future for the next generation

Simon Fell MP has welcomed the roll-out of the largest ever expansion of childcare in England’s history with eligible working parents of two-year-olds now able to access 15 hours of free childcare per week.

Currently, working families in England with children aged three to four-years-old are eligible for 30 hours of free childcare for 38 weeks of the year – a total of 1,140 hours per year.

However, the Conservative Government is committed to securing a better deal for hard-working families across the country, so parents feel empowered to make the choice that is best for them and their family – whether that be returning to work or staying at home to raise their children.

That is why from 1 April, the Conservative Government has extended the childcare package so that eligible working parents of two-year-olds can now access 15 hours of childcare support per week.

But this is just phase one. From September 2024, working parents with children from the age of nine months until they start school will be able to benefit from 15 hours of free childcare per week. This will be expanded again in September 2025 with working parents of children under the age of five able to benefit from 30 hours free childcare per week. 

In addition to delivering the largest expansion of childcare in England’s history, 96 per cent of early education providers are now rated good or outstanding under the Conservatives – up from just 68 per cent in 2010, giving parents a massive confidence boost in the standards of this provision.

Under Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives, the plan is working. If we stick to the plan, we can continue to deliver on our promise of providing parents with the choice to either stay at home to raise the next generation or return to work to contribute to our economy, empowering them to secure the brighter future for themselves and their families.

Commenting, Mr. Fell said:

“Too many families in Barrow and Furness are held back from returning to work once they have had children because the cost of childcare is too high.

“But the Conservative Government is putting an end to this, and eligible parents of two-year-olds are now able to access 15 hours of government-funded childcare a week, with the expansion to go further this year and next, empowering parents to return to work whilst raising a family.

“Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives have a plan and it is working – and we must stick to that plan to continue supporting parents in their careers, whilst also ensuring a brighter future for the next generation.”

Commenting, Secretary of State for Education Gillian Keegan, said:

“This government is taking long term decisions to give working families a brighter future, which is why we are making the largest ever investment in childcare in England’s history.

“From April, well over one hundred thousand more parents will be benefitting from our expanded offer – and next year, hard-working parents with children from nine months old up to when they start school will get a full 30 hours – saving parents £6,900 a year.

“This progress would be destroyed by Labour who have no plan and would take us back to square one by refusing to commit to 30 hours of free childcare, risking the futures of thousands of young people across the country.”