Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to Action for Children's document entitled Where is child poverty increasing in the UK?, published on 17 April 2026, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that early years childcare support and family hub resources are efficiently targeted at low-income households.

The government is committed to improving access to high-quality early education and family support, particularly for disadvantaged children and low-income families. Eligible disadvantaged two-year-olds, including children in low-income households, can access 15 hours of government-funded early education each week, and the ‘Giving every child the best start in life’ strategy commits to increasing take-up of these entitlements and improving access to family support through the rollout of Best Start Family Hubs, particularly in disadvantaged communities.

​​For Best Start Family Hubs, we have set a clear ambition for 70% of hubs to be targeted at the 30% most deprived areas in England. Guidance is clear that local authorities should develop targeted, evidence-informed outreach approaches to identify and engage families who are least likely to engage or at risk of poor outcomes, helping to ensure they can access the best start offer.