Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to paragraph 2.10 of Spending Round 2019, how the £66 million will be distributed between (a) state maintained nurseries and (b) private, voluntary, and independent childcare settings.

The Government continues to support families with their childcare costs. My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced £66 million for early years in 2020-21 to increase hourly rates paid to childcare providers through the Government’s early education entitlements in England. Further information and details of how this will be distributed will follow in due course.

The Department recognises that maintained nursery schools are an important part of the early years sector and provide valuable services to disadvantaged children. In February 2019, we announced further supplementary funding for maintained nursery schools of £24 million to ensure that the 2019-20 academic year is fully funded.