Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of the report by the Education Committee on Support for childcare and the early years, published on 26 July 2023.

​​The department recognises the valuable work of the Education Committee through its report on support for childcare and early years. We have considered the report’s findings and recommendations carefully and have since expanded access to childcare. We are further expanding childcare entitlements so that from September 2025, eligible working parents can access 30 hours of early education and childcare a week from the term after their child turns nine months.

The government’s Plan for Change set out the department’s commitment to give children the best start in life, breaking the link between background and opportunity. This month, we published our landmark strategy, ‘Giving every child the best start in life’, putting children’s first years at the heart of work to improve life chances. This is a fundamental step change in how government drives up quality in early education, ensuring places are available in every community, and restores crumbling family services for the next generation, as the government places £1.5 billion of cash behind the reforms.

​Insights from the report, committee members and wider experts, alongside engagement with parents and the early years and families sectors, have been invaluable in informing the contents of our Best Start in Life strategy.​