Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that children from families not eligible for 30 hours of Government-funded childcare per week are not disadvantaged when starting primary school.

The department is committed to ensuring that all children have the best possible start in life and is committed to improving school readiness with a clear ambition for 75% of children to reach a good level of development by 2028.

Support for parenting and the home learning environment is central to this, as what happens at home has the biggest impact on a child’s life chances. We are supporting families of children aged 0–5 to build strong foundations for development through everyday interactions such as talking, playing and reading.

To deliver this, Best Start Family Hubs have been expanded nationally, with a hub now available in every local authority area, making it easier for families to access universal support close to home.

Further, the government is rolling out universal childcare entitlements, helping more families access high-quality early education and childcare while supporting children’s learning and development before they start school.