High-quality Childcare 2023-10-23
2023-10-23
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The question addresses the need for increased availability and quality of childcare services.
What steps she is taking to help ensure the availability of high-quality childcare.
We are investing over £4.1 billion to expand the current free childcare entitlement offer to eligible working parents of children aged nine to 36 months. We are also increasing the hourly rates for childcare providers for the existing entitlements, and funding rates will be confirmed in the autumn.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The question highlights concerns about the closure of nurseries in the past year and the impact on childcare availability, especially as new entitlements are introduced.
Why does the Minister think that some 600 nurseries have closed in the past year and how will we ensure that parents who are not already accessing childcare can do so?
Part of the reason why we are staggering the entitlement is to ensure that we have the staff in place to deliver it. In the next few weeks we will announce changes to the processes for recruiting people. We will launch a big campaign of recruitment in the new year to increase the workforce, and I have every confidence that we will meet the commitment.
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Assessment & feedback
The reasons for nursery closures were not specifically addressed; instead, focus was on staffing solutions without directly addressing closure issues.
Response accuracy