Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Early Years Education

Monday 29 January 2024 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government is rolling out the largest expansion of childcare in England's history, doubling current spending.
  • Family hubs are being rolled out to replace Sure Start centres, covering children with special educational needs up to age 25.
  • Local authorities are responsible for informing childcare providers of their funding rates, which were published in November.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Barry Sheerman Lab
Education Children & Families
Context

The question stems from the Government's recent expansion of early childhood education in England.

Question

What steps she is taking to improve early years education. This Government are rolling out the largest expansion of childcare in England's history, doubling the amount we spend now. This will enable more children to benefit from higher-quality early years education and childcare more of the time, building strong foundations for every child and enabling more parents to work.

Answer from David Johnston

This Government are rolling out the largest expansion of childcare in England's history, doubling the amount we spend now. This will enable more children to benefit from higher-quality early years education and childcare more of the time, building strong foundations for every child and enabling more parents to work.

Answered
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Q2 Barry Sheerman Lab
Children & Families
Context

The Government previously dismantled children's and Sure Start centres, causing chaos in the system with parents struggling to get codes for benefits and confusion over local government funding.

Question

Why has it taken 14 years for the Government to get around to having a plan? They got rid of children's centres and Sure Start centres, and they have not replaced them with anything until now. Now we see chaos: people cannot get the code; they do not know what money they are getting from local government; the National Day Nurseries Association says it is a mess. What is the Minister going to do to clear up this mess?

Answer from David Johnston

There was a lot in that question. On the Sure Start point, we are rolling out family hubs, which will be a lot broader than the Sure Start centres were and will cover children with special educational needs up to the age of 25. As for the codes issue, as the hon. Gentleman will already know, we have worked with His Majesty's Revenue and Customs to provide a solution to that issue for all parents so that no parent will miss out as a result.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific issues related to chaos in obtaining codes and funding uncertainties were not fully addressed.

How: Working With Hmrc

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Q3 Robin Walker Con
Children & Families
Context

There is a need for a specialist assessment centre in Worcester due to the loss of one previously located at Fort Royal.

Question

I very much welcome the fact that this Government are doubling investment in early years and childcare. As the Secretary of State said earlier with regard to special educational needs, early identification of need is absolutely key. From that perspective, will the Minister meet me to discuss the urgent need for a specialist assessment centre in Worcester, after the loss of the one in Fort Royal? It has gone out for commissioning, but unfortunately we have not had any bids to host the new one, and we need to get on with delivering one for next September.

Answer from David Johnston

I do not know the details of my hon. Friend's specific case, but I would be delighted to meet him to discuss it further.

Not addressed: The urgent need for a specialist assessment centre was avoided by offering to meet without specifying action or commitment.

How: I Do Not Know The Details Of My Hon. Friend'S Specific Case

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Q4 Helen Hayes Lab Dulwich and West Norwood
Children & Families
Context

With two months until the start of the expanded offer for two-year-olds, nurseries and childminders are still waiting to have their funding rates confirmed.

Question

With just over two months to go until the start of the expanded offer for two-year-olds, the Government's plans for early years education and childcare are in complete chaos, with nurseries and childminders across the country still waiting to have their funding rates for April confirmed. How can the Minister expect providers to confirm places with parents when they do not even know what they will be paid? Does he agree with the chief executive of the Early Years Alliance that this is yet another example from this Government of announce first and do the thinking afterwards?

Answer from David Johnston

I think the hon. Lady knows that the reason providers do not have their rates at the moment is that local authorities have not informed them of their rates. We published the rates in November and it is up to local authorities to tell their providers. Where they do not have those rates, that is the reason. It is yet another example of where the Labour party hopes that if it snipes enough from the sidelines, no one will notice that it has no plan whatever for childcare.

How: The Labour Party Does Not Have A Plan

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