A national expansion of funded childcare is set to take place in the UK in the coming years, and parents are being asked to provide details of their childcare needs as a result. The changes will benefit working parents of young children, as well as parents of primary school-aged children. To ensure that these changes can be carried out most effectively, local councils and childcare providers are requesting information from parents via two brief surveys.
As of April 2024, working parents of two-year-olds will have access to 15 hours of funded childcare. Then, from September of the same year, working parents of children aged between nine and 23 months will be able to take advantage of the same offer. By 2025, the offer will extend to working parents of children aged nine months and over, up to the point where those children are able to start school.
In addition to this, the government will be increasing the availability of wraparound care, applicable for primary school-aged children. This service will not be publicly funded, however, parents who are eligible for Tax-Free Childcare or Universal Credit Childcare can use these schemes to help cover the costs. Nevertheless, the surveys do not require parents to divulge any personal information.
Both the funded childcare expansion and wraparound care surveys are quick to complete, not taking more than five minutes. The surveys will be open and available for parents to provide responses until 26th April. Those wanting to learn more about childcare support options should sign up to the Childcare Choices newsletter
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