Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an estimate with Cabinet colleagues of the number of unpaid carers who have children under the age of five that will not be eligible to access the expansion of the 30 hours free childcare offer in 2024-2025.

The department does not hold data on the number of unpaid carers with children under the age of five.

Unpaid carers would not be eligible for the 30 hours offer unless they meet the minimum income criteria. A two-parent household may still be able to meet the criteria for 30 hours free childcare where one parent is working, and meeting the above income criteria, and the other is receiving one of certain benefits. The eligibility criteria is available at: https://www.gov.uk/30-hours-free-childcare?step-by-step-nav=f517cd57-3c18-4bb9-aa8b-1b907e279bf9. Those receiving Carer’s Allowance are included.

All three and four year-olds are eligible for the 15-hour free entitlement regardless of their parents’ circumstances. This is available the term after a child turns three and is available for 38 weeks a year during term time, or across more weeks of the year if they use fewer hours per week.