Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has made an assessment of the merits of extending the eligibility requirements for free childcare for two year olds to support low income parents return to work.

The core purpose of the 2-year-old entitlement is to provide a developmental boost to disadvantaged children who are less likely to use formal childcare, but who stand to benefit the most from it. Whilst the entitlement does provide some practical support to help parents return to work or attend training, this is not its main objective.

Parents of 2-year-olds who are in receipt of specified income support benefits, including Universal Credit, whose household income is £15,400 a year or less, are entitled to 15 hours free childcare over 38 weeks of the year.

We believe it is right to target this free entitlement for 2-year-olds from disadvantaged families who need it most. National eligibility criteria have been designed to target those groups who the evidence shows will most benefit from early education.

As well as the 2-year-old entitlement, the government provides other support with the cost of childcare for working parents. Working parents on a low income may be eligible for help with up to 85% of their childcare costs through Universal Credit Childcare. Working parents of 0- to 11-year-olds (or 16-year-olds if the child has a disability) can also access Tax Free Childcare, where the government will pay £2 for every £8 parents pay their provider via an online account, up to a maximum of £2000 per child each year. Parents must earn a minimum of £139 a week and no more than £100,000 annually.