Will The Extended Childcare Scheme Boost Tory Hopes?
The Independent|April 03, 2024
This week marks the start of the rollout of the government's much-vaunted expansion of childcare, costing some £4bn a year.
SEAN O'GRADY
Will The Extended Childcare Scheme Boost Tory Hopes?

According to the education secretary, Gillian Keegan, "by the end of our rollout, this will save working parents on average £6,900 a year, helping 60,000 more people back into work".

The prime minister has been busily touring classrooms and telling news crews that it’s a “positive and exciting moment”. At the moment, for working parents of three- and four-year-olds, 30 hours of childcare funded by the government is already available, and the expansion of the cover is being rolled out in these phases:

  • 15 hours free childcare a week for two-year-olds from this month
  • 15 hours free childcare for nine-month-olds from September 2024
  • 30 hours free childcare for all under-fives from September 2025

To qualify for the new hours, the majority of parents must earn more than £8,670, but less than £100,000 per year.

Recognising that, despite the plan, not everything will be available immediately, Keegan says the government is “working all across the country to make sure we build the capacity to cope with the demand”. Many parents have faced problems, however, with actually getting their offspring into a facility in good time. Labour calls the rollout “a mess” and has pledged to review it. Childcare lobby group the Early Years Alliance warn that “simply promising ‘more free childcare’ is meaningless if you’re not willing to invest in the infrastructure needed to deliver it”.

So will the scheme be a success?

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der April 03, 2024-Ausgabe von The Independent.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der April 03, 2024-Ausgabe von The Independent.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS THE INDEPENDENTAlle anzeigen
Courageous Brighton rock Man City to reach top four
The Independent

Courageous Brighton rock Man City to reach top four

Brighton staged a sensational late fightback to come from behind and send Manchester City to a fourth consecutive defeat with a pulsating 2-1 win at the Amex Stadium.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
November 10, 2024
Doubt creeps in as England.stung at the death again
The Independent

Doubt creeps in as England.stung at the death again

Another week, another heartbreak for England and now serious questions must be asked about the direction of the Steve Borthwick project.

time-read
4 Minuten  |
November 10, 2024
'Guys on mopeds were beating up an Israeli... they were looking for Jews'
The Independent

'Guys on mopeds were beating up an Israeli... they were looking for Jews'

Football hooligans and ‘antisemitic hit-and-run squads' made for a volatile Amsterdam atmosphere, reports Barney Davis.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
November 10, 2024
Inside 4B - the women's group going on ‘men strike'
The Independent

Inside 4B - the women's group going on ‘men strike'

Zoë Beaty meets an American who's become a symbol for the growing movement of females rejecting relations with men

time-read
6 Minuten  |
November 10, 2024
Qatar to suspend mediation efforts on Gaza, say officials
The Independent

Qatar to suspend mediation efforts on Gaza, say officials

Qatar has decided to suspend its key mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel, officials said yesterday, after growing frustration with the lack of progress on a ceasefire deal for Gaza.

time-read
4 Minuten  |
November 10, 2024
Biden bears brunt of blame game among the Democrats
The Independent

Biden bears brunt of blame game among the Democrats

Fingers are pointing at the president after Donald Trump's sweeping victory - but some strategists argue other factors played a part in Kamala Harris's defeat, writes

time-read
7 Minuten  |
November 10, 2024
Chief of staff dubbed ice maiden by Trump will keep 'clowns' out of Oval Office
The Independent

Chief of staff dubbed ice maiden by Trump will keep 'clowns' out of Oval Office

Informal advisers that dogged first presidency to be got rid of

time-read
3 Minuten  |
November 10, 2024
Coroner's warning of cancel culture after student suicide
The Independent

Coroner's warning of cancel culture after student suicide

A coroner has called on the government to examine the prevalence of \"cancel culture\" on university campuses, after ruling that a 20-year-old Oxford student took his own life after being \"ostracised\" by his peers.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
November 10, 2024
'I did not know you could be born without a uterus'
The Independent

'I did not know you could be born without a uterus'

Andreia Trigo is dedicated to helping others struggling with infertility because of her own diagnosis of MRKH syndrome

time-read
3 Minuten  |
November 10, 2024
Healey says Ukraine war inspired son to join army
The Independent

Healey says Ukraine war inspired son to join army

The defence secretary has revealed his son joined the army as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, saying the conflict is now “personal”.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
November 10, 2024