Legal News

Childcare Minister Sam Gyimah has announced £13 million in funding to enable local councils to deliver 30 hours of free childcare to parents of three- and four-year-olds one year ahead of schedule.

The announcement on Tuesday (02/02/16), means working parents in Wigan, Staffordshire, Swindon, Portsmouth, Northumberland, York, Newham and Hertfordshire will benefit from the government’s free childcare scheme from September.

All three- and four-year-olds are currently entitled to 15 hours of free childcare a week – which is also extended to the most disadvantaged two-year-olds.

In 2015, more than one million three- and four-year-olds and 157,000 two-year-olds benefited from the government’s free childcare scheme.

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said:

“For too long, rising childcare costs have been a barrier preventing parents –
and particularly mothers – from working.

“That’s why I’m delighted that, in just a few months’ time, we will see the first families benefiting from the government’s offer of 30 hours’ free childcare for working parents.

“We have made a commitment to help working people – and through this extended offer, we will help thousands more parents who want to return to work to do so.”

The government is also looking at the issues which make it difficult for parents with particular challenges to access childcare, including special educational needs and disability.

The core group of councils will be supported by 25 others, who will look specifically at innovative ways of making sure childcare is accessible to as many parents as possible.

Their experiences will then be used to support the full rollout in 2017, with the aim of removing significant barriers to parents taking up their entitlement.

Childcare Minister Sam Gyimah said:

“I know how important childcare is from my own personal experience and I couldn’t be more determined to make sure we give children the best start in life, support parents to work – and, as a result, allow our country to prosper.

“I’m pleased that we are investing in childcare – and I’m looking forward to seeing how working parents benefit from 30 hours’ free childcare, before we roll the offer out to the rest of the country.”

Duncan Lewis Children Lawyers

Duncan Lewis children lawyers can advise on a wide range of family and child care matters, including parents’ rights to parental leave, access to free childcare and work issues affecting parents.

Duncan Lewis is also able to advise on children taken into local authority care and care proceedings, including Section 38 enquiries, pre-proceeding meetings and Court of Protection cases.

For expert legal advice on family law and child care matters, call Duncan Lewis children lawyers on 0333 772 0409.