Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of childcare on meeting the needs of parents working irregular hours, shift patterns or in insecure employment.

The department is investing over £1 billion more in the early years entitlements this year compared to 2025/26 and an above inflation increase to entitlements funding rates. In 2026/27, we expect to provide over £9.5 billion for the early years entitlements. In addition to funding increases, we will consult on changes to how early years funding is allocated and distributed as part of the ongoing review of childcare provision and regulation.

Local authorities must, so far as is reasonably practicable, secure sufficient childcare for working parents in their area. The department’s statutory guidance states that they should assess the childcare needs of parents and ensure there is provision that supports participation in work and training. When assessing sufficiency, local authorities should consider families who may have difficulty accessing childcare, including those working outside standard hours or with changing work patterns.

By allowing funded hours to be stretched across the year, deducting closures from calculations, and enabling mixed‑provider models, the system is designed to work alongside all‑year childcare businesses, managing funding and fees transparently and within national limits, broadening parental choice.

We continue to monitor the sufficiency of childcare places; the key measure being the supply of available places is sufficient to meet requirements.

Section 6 of the Childcare Act 2006 states that local authorities are responsible for ensuring the provision of childcare is sufficient in their area.