Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to introduce a new support package for parents of two-year old children.

We are already providing support to parents of two-year-olds. Disadvantaged two-year-olds in England are eligible for 15 hours a week of free early education and childcare. The programme is aimed at narrowing the educational gap between children in particular financial or other complex circumstances and their peers.

The eligibility criteria for the programme can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/free-childcare-and-education-for-2-to-4-year-olds

For parents who fall outside these criteria, in 2017, the government is introducing Tax-Free Childcare, which could save them up to £2,000 per child or up to £4,000 if their child is disabled for children aged under 12 (or 17 for children with special educational needs or disabilities).

Parents who qualify for Universal Credit can receive the childcare element which provides direct support with up to 85% of eligible costs as of April 2016.