Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Childcare: Black Country

30 October 2024 · 1 other contributor · 1,958 words

Opened by Sonia Kumar Lab Dudley

Responding minister: Stephen Morgan

Children & Families

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Sonia Kumar raised concerns about childcare: black country in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • The quality and availability of childcare in the Black Country is a critical issue, with Dudley having only 17 childcare places per 100 children, below the national average of 25 per 100.
  • Only 7% of local providers in the Black Country received an outstanding rating from Ofsted, compared to the national average of 14%.
  • The YMCA reports that 34% of children in its Black Country settings require additional support for special educational needs and disabilities, significantly higher than the 13% in affluent areas.

Key requests to Government

How will the Government address childcare deserts? What specific measures will be put in place to ensure families in financial hardship can access childcare? How will providers facing inflation-driven costs receive support?

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Sonia Kumar Lab Dudley

The quality and availability of childcare in the Black Country is a critical issue. Dudley has only 17 places per 100 children, falling below the national average of 25 per 100. Only 7% of local providers received an outstanding rating from Ofsted compared to the national average of 14%. The YMCA reports that over a third (34%) of children in its Black Country settings need additional support for special educational needs and disabilities, which is significantly higher than the 13% in affluent areas. Child poverty has risen from 22% in 2014 to 32% in 2023.

Other contributors (1)
  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Commends Sonia Kumar for the debate and emphasizes the need for special priority in cases where children require early care due to autism, speech therapy needs, or one-to-one support.

Government Response

Stephen Morgan

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Twigg. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Dudley for securing this debate on an important subject. This Government believe that all children deserve access to high-quality early education and are committed to delivering childcare entitlements promised to families. Local authorities and providers have worked diligently to deliver the latest expansion of entitlements in September, with over 320,000 parents accessing a place. The government confirmed £1.8 billion to support the expansion to 2025-26 and an additional £15 million for capital funding to expand school-based nurseries. More than half of local areas need to increase their capacity by between 10% and 20% to meet demand next September, with the highest uplifts needed in disadvantaged areas. My Department works regularly with each local authority to discuss childcare sufficiency and issues faced. Across Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall, and Wolverhampton, there are approximately 770 providers offering around 32,000 places, with no reported issues regarding sufficiency. The Government will continue to grow the early years education system without compromising quality by extending the stronger practice hubs programme until at least March 2025 and funding evidence-based early language interventions in primary schools from July. New safeguarding requirements will be implemented from September 2025, including safer recruitment, child absences, safer eating, safeguarding training, and paediatric first aid training.

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