Preet Kaur Gill MP’s call for action as Labour opens applications for landmark 30 hours government-funded childcare expansion

Preet Kaur Gill MP at World's End Primary School

• New data finds half a million children already benefitting from 15 hours extended childcare offer as Labour opens applications for tens of thousands more from today  

• Eligible working parents to double their savings, reaching up to £7,500 per child thanks to Labour’s Plan for Change to put money back in people’s pockets  

• Families on lower incomes see biggest benefits as new survey shows offer boosting work choices  

Working parents in Birmingham, Edgbaston will soon see cash back in their pockets the Labour government opens applications for 30 hours of funded childcare from September.

From today (12 May), all eligible working parents of children who will be 9 months old before 1 September can apply to access up to 30 hours of funded childcare a week, saving them up to £7,500 a year per child.  

With savings from Labour’s free breakfast club rollout and school uniform cap, this rises to up to £8,000 for working parents who also have school-aged children, every year.  

This latest milestone follows the successful rollout of 15 funded hours for children from 9 months last September, with 499,592 children already benefitting from access to more affordable and high-quality early years education and childcare.

Despite the pledge without a plan inherited from the Conservatives posing significant delivery challenges, Labour is committed to increasing access to childcare that gives every child the best start in life. That’s why through its Plan for Change, the Labour government has already taken urgent action through hundreds of new school-based nurseries and a £2 billion extra investment compared to last year to support the brilliant existing providers deliver the 35,000 additional staff and 70,000 places required to meet demand for September.  

Preet Kaur Gill, MP for Birmingham, Edgbaston, said: 

“I hear from families across my constituency that childcare is too often inaccessible and unaffordable. I encourage families to come forward and take up the support being offered by Labour, as we seek to boost work choices for parents and life chances for children.  

“With government-funded childcare, free breakfast clubs and cheaper uniform costs, Labour is putting thousands of pounds back in parents’ pockets.  

“Children growing up in Birmingham deserve nothing less than the best start in life, that’s what our Plan for Change will deliver.” 

A new government survey of parents who took up the childcare entitlements last September has found that Labour’s rollout is breaking down barriers to opportunity and playing a key role in supporting British business and kick-starting economic growth.  

Lower-income families are seeing the biggest impact, with one in five of those earning £20,000 – £40,000 having increased their working hours thanks to the 15 hours brought in last year.  

Looking ahead to this September, of the 2,723 respondents who are planning to increase their childcare hours, over half (1,425) are intending to up their work hours too - good news for families, and good news for employers.  

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:  

“Labour has a clear Plan for Change to break the unfair link between background and opportunity across this country, which starts by ensuring our children start school ready to learn.  

“Early years is my number one priority, and making sure families are able to benefit from this rollout is a promise made, and promise kept. But this is just the beginning.  

“Through the hard work of the sector, supported by our record investment, landmark school-based nursery rollout and focus on vital early learning support, we will deliver an early years system that gives every child the best start in life.”  

The success of the rollout so far is testament to the work and commitment of nurseries, preschools and childminders, alongside local authorities, with 6123 of 6337 respondents who applied for government-funded hours last Autumn going on to secure a place. 

ENDS