Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of parents or carers who are entitled to government funded childcare hours purchase additional hours on top.

The government’s Plan for Change sets out a commitment to give children the best start in life, breaking the link between background and opportunity.

The department does not hold data on the number of parents or carers that are entitled to government funded childcare and have purchased additional hours.

We are delivering more support to working families. Eligible working parents of children aged 9 months and older are now benefiting from 30 hours of funded childcare per week (over 38 weeks a year). Families using their full entitlement can save an average of £8,000 per child per year.

In 2026/27 we expect to provide over £9.5 billion in early years entitlements, more than doubling annual public investment in the early years sector compared to 2023/24.

As announced in the Autumn Budget 2025, the department is leading a cross-government review into the early education and childcare support that is provided by different parts of government. The Review is supporting the vision for early education and care set out in the ‘Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life’ publication, one that strengthens children’s life chances across the country, supports parents’ work choices, is simpler and easier to use, and improves access.