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Question
While welcoming the investment, Laura Trott criticises the government's failure to compensate nurseries for national insurance increases and questions how the locations of school-based nurseries were chosen. She also asks if these nurseries will mimic the school timetable or offer year-round provision.
Minister reply
The minister did not provide a direct answer in this excerpt but is likely to respond by emphasising her government's commitment to early years education and addressing concerns about national insurance increases.
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Question
Asked about the legal basis of the announcement
Minister reply
We are investing an extra £2 billion in early years entitlements, taking the total to £8 billion. We have also secured a £75 million expansion grant and compensation for public sector employers.
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Question
Asked about delivery of the September 2025 childcare expansion
Minister reply
Parents will see considerable savings, ensuring that all children get the best possible start in life. Portsmouth South secured a school-based nursery this time around.
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Question
Asked about rates paid for free entitlements and impact of national insurance hike
Minister reply
We will continue to keep the rates under review. We believe transparency in charging is important, but we are working closely with providers to deliver the places needed.
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Question
Welcomed the statement and thanked her for it
Minister reply
I agree that actions speak louder than words. We thank all staff working in education for their vital work.
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Question
Asked about timeline to get from 300 to 3,000 new arrangements
Minister reply
This is the first phase and we will roll out the remaining nurseries over the course of this Parliament.
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Question
Welcomed the announcement and asked about number of children affected
Minister reply
This initiative will create 6,000 new childcare places, most of which we expect to be available from September 2025.
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Question
Asked about steps to address recruitment and retention crisis
Minister reply
We are working closely with the sector to ensure that we have sufficient staff in place. We will continue to support schools to deliver high-quality education for under-threes.
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Question
Will my right hon. Friend outline the Government’s timetable for expanding the scheme further, so that parents across his constituency and others can look forward to an improvement in childcare provision?
Minister reply
This announcement is an important first step in our ambitious plan, but there is more to come throughout this Parliament. We will set out more details on wider reform later this year.
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Question
What urgent action is the Education Secretary taking to prevent a meltdown in childcare, given that nurseries are struggling due to rising business rates, national insurance and wage bills?
Minister reply
We have set out £8 billion in funding alongside the biggest ever uplift to the early years pupil premium and a £75 million expansion grant. We are also working closely with private and voluntary providers and childminders to deliver places promised by the Conservative party.
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Question
Does my right hon. Friend agree that accessible childcare is essential support for all families, and can she outline how today’s announcement will help to boost household incomes?
Minister reply
This funding supports a record proportion of children arriving at school ready to learn and puts more money directly back into parents’ pockets—the figure being £7,500.
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Question
What are the Government doing to support community-based options such as one o’clock clubs and Sure Start centres?
Minister reply
We recognise the importance of family support services in early years, especially for our youngest children. We will do more in the months ahead to ensure good access to both education services and health and care services.
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Question
Can the Secretary of State reassure families in Bristol North East and across the country that this announcement is just the start, and that under a Labour Government, we will see lots more nursery places opening?
Minister reply
Parents in my hon. Friend’s constituency will benefit now from the expansion of school-based nurseries, but this is just the start. We are working closely with private and voluntary providers to deliver places promised by the Conservative party.
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Question
Is today’s announcement giving with one hand to deprived urban areas, while taking away with the other by hammering nurseries in rural villages with increased national insurance contributions?
Minister reply
The list of schools announced today covers constituencies both urban and rural. We recognise the need for adequate provision in rural communities and would be happy to respond if she shares further information.
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Question
Does my right hon. Friend agree that investing in nurseries in deprived areas is essential to give very young children a good start to their education journey?
Minister reply
All the evidence shows that where gaps open up early, they endure into the long run, impacting children’s ability to do well at school and get good GCSEs. Investing in nurseries in deprived areas will make the biggest difference.
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Question
How are we going to ensure that community settings benefit, rather than just seeing toddlers transferring into school settings with other settings closing?
Minister reply
Many schools will create early years places throughout the year in partnership with private or voluntary providers. We believe this represents an important step in supporting child development.
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Question
Does my right hon. Friend agree that this new scheme will directly benefit rural constituencies at a time when access to nursery provision is even more challenging for families, including working families?
Minister reply
We believe there is an important role for school-based provision in expanding early years opportunities, creating places that support children and their families.
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Question
Why are private voluntary or independent nurseries not more central to expansion plans, given that they face significant funding challenges and increased employer NICs?
Minister reply
We recognise the critical role these providers play in supporting children and families. However, we also see an important role for school-based nurseries, especially in disadvantaged communities where schools already have a higher market share. We are committed to expanding high-quality early years provision through both types of providers.
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Question
Can you elaborate on the benefits for disadvantaged children, including those with English as a second language?
Minister reply
Children from disadvantaged backgrounds have the most to gain from high-quality early years education. Our announcements will allow us to provide more places and expand entitlements, alongside the big uplift in the early years pupil premium.
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Question
Will you meet me and constituents to discuss funding issues faced by private nurseries due to new restrictions?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend's Parliamentary Under-Secretary will be happy to meet the hon. Gentleman to further discuss these issues. We have increased the early years pupil premium by 45% and provided a £75 million expansion grant.
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Question
What revenue funding will nurseries receive?
Minister reply
Parents in the constituency will have access to expanded childcare entitlements, and we are ensuring that places are available. The investment will allow parents to take up these offers.
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Question
Does the Secretary of State agree it is vital for parents in both urban and rural communities not to have to choose between family and job?
Minister reply
I agree. We are working tirelessly, like Paula Shaw at Great Horwood Church of England school, to support children and families. This includes rolling out extra places and supporting all children's opportunities.
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Question
Does the Secretary of State agree that this announcement offers a huge opportunity for young children's development and puts money back into parents' pockets?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is a great champion for South Ribble, and we are enabling all our children to have a brilliant start in life by putting more money back into families through breakfast clubs and primary-based nurseries.
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Question
Can the Secretary of State commit to rolling out further schemes in socially deprived areas like Blyth?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend can be assured that we will continue with national roll-outs, including school-based nurseries which serve communities experiencing disadvantage.
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Question
How will this benefit children and parents in Harlow, and could there be more provision?
Minister reply
Jerounds primary school's work is amazing. This programme puts more money back into parents' pockets by providing affordable childcare options and giving extra choices for working hours.
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Question
Will parents in Craghead benefit from cheaper childcare through new school-based nurseries?
Minister reply
Parents across County Durham will be able to access higher-quality, more affordable childcare. This is especially crucial for communities that have the most to gain from high-quality early years education.
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Question
Does this announcement, along with yesterday’s national living wage increase, demonstrate Labour delivering on making work pay?
Minister reply
I agree. This programme supports working families and puts more money back into their pockets while ensuring high-quality early years support for all children.
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Question
May I invite the Secretary of State to Swaffham to see the positive impact on rural communities?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend raises an important point about ensuring high-quality childcare alongside housing development. We will consider visiting when these provisions are up and running.
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Question
Does the Secretary of State agree that the new provision will transform high-deprivation places, where 46% of the population already have high levels of debt?
Minister reply
Yes. The expanded provision at Portway in his constituency will make a big difference by supporting parents to take on work opportunities and providing more support for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
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Question
Does she find it hard, as I do, to take lectures from the Conservative party when it comes to the provision of childcare?
Minister reply
Yes. It is this Labour Government who are getting on and delivering the childcare places that parents across our country want to see, including in my hon. Friend’s constituency of Banbury.
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Question
Does the Minister agree that this investment, coupled with that given by Labour councils across the country through school streets programmes, will create a true learning environment that is fit for purpose?
Minister reply
I join my hon. Friend in welcoming the important contribution that Horsted, in his constituency, will make as part of this scheme.
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Question
Does the Secretary of State agree that nurseries provide opportunities not only for children but for adults, and can she assure us that, as the programme is rolled out, the focus will remain on areas that have not only educational needs but economic needs and other forms of deprivation?
Minister reply
The expanded provision at Portway in his constituency will make a big difference by supporting parents to take on work opportunities and providing more support for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
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Question
Does the Minister agree that new childcare places in new and expanded nurseries, including at Treleigh primary school, will help children from the most deprived backgrounds have the best start in life?
Minister reply
On average, 40% of the overall gap between disadvantaged 16-year-olds and their peers has already emerged by the age of five. That is why it is critical that we invest in the early years to give more children the best possible start in life.
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Question
Does the Secretary of State agree that these new nurseries will make a real difference to families in my constituency and across the country by saving them up to £7,500?
Minister reply
Yes. Today’s announcement will support parents to save up to £7,500 a year, putting more money back into their pockets.
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Question
Does my right hon. Friend agree that school-based nurseries set children up perfectly for going into reception?
Minister reply
I agree with my hon. Friend. It eases the transition from nursery to reception and sets up children to succeed.
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Question
Can I put on record my thanks to these schools, and can I ask if the Secretary of State will join me in visiting schools and celebrating the work they do?
Minister reply
I will do my very best to visit Lichfield to see the fantastic provision and, critically, to see the brilliant work my hon. Friend is doing to champion local schools and nurseries in his constituency.
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Question
Could the Secretary of State share with the House how these plans will help parents get into work?
Minister reply
This announcement will make a big difference in his constituency and in constituencies across the country. From the applications to the scheme, we saw real demand.
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Question
Can I thank the Secretary of State for that, and ask her about the timeline for rolling out the scheme to further schools that I represent in my constituency?
Minister reply
This is the first phase of our announcement. We will draw on the experience of the schools that take part in the first phase as we take forward future phases.
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Question
Will the Secretary of State join me in thanking so many early years practitioners across my constituency and the UK for their tireless work to give our children the best start possible?
Minister reply
I congratulate the amazing early years workforce and our education workforce in Weston-super-Mare and across our country. They are the people who make the biggest difference for children.
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Question
I am proud that Smallthorne primary academy in my constituency has been selected for a new school-based nursery. Does the Secretary of State agree with me that these nurseries are vital not only for childcare but also for helping with school-readiness and closing developmental gaps?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is absolutely right about the difference that early years provision makes, both in those crucial early years and throughout children’s lives. I am delighted that Smallthorne and many other communities will benefit from high-quality early years education which is critical to their life chances.
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Question
I am sure the children of Pondhu primary school are delighted with the investment in the nursery. Given that St Austell Central has become the second most deprived ward in Cornwall, what impact does the Secretary of State expect this to have on the life chances of children living in deprived families?
Minister reply
Children from more disadvantaged backgrounds will benefit the most from high-quality early years education when it starts earlier. The overall gap between disadvantaged 16-year-olds and their peers has already emerged by age five, which is why we need to support these children and families at a younger age.
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Question
I thank the Secretary of State for joining me in Peterborough earlier this week. Will she join me in congratulating Ben Erskine and the staff team at Fulbridge academy, who excel in giving great education to students? Does she agree that with leadership, a relentless focus on standards, and the resources announced today, absolutely nothing can hold back the ambition of working-class communities?
Minister reply
I was delighted to visit Fulbridge and meet the brilliant staff team. There should be no ceiling on children’s ambition and aspiration in working-class communities, and I know my hon. Friend will continue to champion his constituency to deliver a country where background is no barrier to getting on in life.
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Question
I warmly welcome the news that Uplands primary school in Sandhurst has been awarded funding to expand its nursery. Will the Secretary of State set out what this means for Labour’s commitment to delivering top-quality childcare for families across my constituency and the country?
Minister reply
This Government aims to ensure families can access high-quality childcare support, important for both work choices and children’s development. We have set an ambitious target to make sure a record number of children are school-ready when they start school, and high-quality early years provision is critical in achieving this.
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Question
I welcome the statement and all the Secretary of State’s work in this area. I particularly welcome that St Stephen’s in my constituency will be home to one of these nurseries. Does she agree that delivering on these aims is a real sign that our Government are delivering for children and their parents?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is absolutely right, having campaigned for years to support working parents with high-quality early years provision and childcare. The £37 million investment, including at St Stephen’s in his constituency, will make a big difference to working parents across the country.