Rachel has visited a nursery in Redditch to discuss the Government’s “transformational” childcare reforms.
Earlier this month, Rachel visited Noah’s Ark Nursery in Matchborough where she was taken on a tour of the childcare provider’s facilities.
Rachel also took the opportunity to discuss the childcare reforms the Chancellor announced last year, as well as issues affecting the childcare sector.
The Government is significantly expanding the support on offer by providing 30 hours a week of free childcare for 38 weeks a year for eligible working parents of children aged 9 months to 3 years.
These reforms, which will remove barriers to work for over 400,000 parents, will be rolled out in phases from April 2024 and is in addition to the 30 hours a week already provided for eligible working parents of 3 to 4-year-olds.
To support the rollout, at the Budget earlier this month, the Chancellor confirmed the hourly rate providers are paid to deliver the free hours offers will increase. This reflects that workforce costs are the most significant costs for childcare providers and represents an estimated additional £500 million of investment over two years.
Rachel said:
“As a mother four of myself, I know just how transformational the largest ever expansion of childcare will be for working families in Redditch and the Villages.
“Having raised the concerns of childcare providers in Redditch, I’m pleased the Chancellor has listened and has confirmed the hourly rate providers are paid to deliver the free hours offers will increase.
“The cost of childcare can be a real struggle for parents and can become a barrier to work, which is why this Government is ensuring childcare is truly affordable and available when and where parents need it.”
Parents can see exactly what additional childcare support they will be entitled to over the coming months and years on the Government's childcare choices website: https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
