Do you have questions about the government’s new childcare offers? Ask the Minister for Children and Families, David Johnston MP.

[RhiannonEMumsnet]

There are millions of conversations on Mumsnet every year about childcare - from cost to availability, to the importance of early years education in children’s lives. The government is currently embarking on the biggest expansion to childcare in England ever, meaning more working families will benefit from support with childcare costs to help them juggle work and family life. You can find more info about that here.

Later this month David Johnston MP, the Minister for Children and Families, will be answering your questions about all things childcare - from the new childcare hours, to the importance of childcare for working parents, to how government policy on childcare is made. Please share your questions below.

Please stick to the usual guidelines - one question per user, keep it civil, and if one topic is dominating, please don't continue to post what's effectively the same question or point - we'll be deleting questions that are repeated multiple times.

David Johnston was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Education on 31 August 2023.

He was previously Chief Executive of the Social Mobility Foundation, a charity which runs a range of programmes that incorporate mentoring, internships, university application support and skills development to help young people from low-income backgrounds enter universities and professions.

In addition to being a governor at Pimlico Academy, a London secondary school, David is a governor of a sixth form college in London and is on the board of an organisation for 11 to 16 year olds in Oxfordshire.

@RhiannonEMumsnet any update on this thread?

Is there any update or has the Minister - or more likely, his SpAds - realised the poorly thought through policy has real world implications, negatively impacting the Conservative election chances?

Hi everyone - and apologies again for the delay. We're pleased to say that the Minister will be answering your questions today.

Thanks for your patience!
MNHQ

@TheMadnessOfOfsted

Supporting the brilliant providers already in the sector is a very important priority for us, and we're doing a number of things to do this.

For example, we are investing hundreds of millions of pounds to increase rates paid for government-funded hours, and are providing a package of training, qualifications, and expert guidance worth up to £180 million to help retain staff in the sector.

We have also launched a new communications campaign (earlyyearscareers.campaign.gov.uk/), alongside an accelerated childcare apprenticeship and degree apprenticeship, to help recruit more staff into rewarding early years careers.

We have worked closely with Ofsted to make significant changes to ensure inspections help to keep children safe, whilst also prioritising the wellbeing of school leaders - this includes recently expanding wellbeing support for teachers.

@Blanketbaby7

There are 60,000 providers of childcare and while we hope everyone will offer the full entitlements, we cannot compel them to.

However, we have made clear that local authorities should work with providers and parents to ensure that all eligible parents have fair access to a place in their area.

If you are a working parent of a three-year-old and want to take up the full 30 hours as per the current offer, remember you can split the entitlement with another provider, or talk to your local authority for further information on finding a 30 hours childcare place in your area.

@jellybeanpopper

We are confident in the strength of the childcare sector to deliver the offers, but of course understand your concern.

That is why, in 2024-25 alone, we expect to provide over £1.7 billion to support local authorities and providers deliver the expansion to the early years entitlements. On top of this, we have announced over £400m additional investment in 2024-25 to uplift LA-level rates, which includes a further £67 million new funding to reflect the latest National Living Wage increase and the £288 million for the existing entitlements in 2024-25 announced at Spring Budget in March 2023.

This all adds up to the largest ever investment in childcare in England ever, taking investment from £4 billion each year on our existing childcare offer, to £8 billion in total by 27-28.

@Superduper02

We published our 2024-25 hourly funding rates in November.

We plan to change the rules for future funding allocations, so local authorities will have to confirm how they are allocating it within a number of weeks of the government's announcement to give providers and parents the time they need for planning.

@SquashPenguin

As childcare is devolved it is a matter for the Welsh government as to whether they expand their existing offer in the future. As of yet, the Welsh government has no plans to expand the childcare support.

Eligible working parents in Wales can currently use Tax-Free Childcare or Universal Credit Childcare to help them with the costs of childcare. There are also similar childcare support schemes for 3 and 4 year olds in Wales which you can find more about here: www.gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2019-03/foundation-phase-nursery-guide-for-parents-and-carers.pdf

@DahliaRose3

International comparisons are difficult to make on a like-for-like basis, as some countries may have lower up-front costs to parents but have higher government subsidies, which may mean higher costs for taxpayers, for example, Sweden and Finland.

We've heard parents' concerns which is why the package we are introducing will drive up the generosity of our childcare offer, supporting more women to have a family, and career. This will be backed by £8 billion a year by 27-28 and will mean that the UK has one of the most generous childcare entitlement offers for working parents, by international standards.

@Joleyne

Thanks for this. I have put this question to the Ofsted team.

Ofsted makes information available to settings on how to share concerns about a recent inspection or to make a complaint. Further guidance about Ofsted’s complaints procedure is available on its website at: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted/about/complaints-procedure. This includes how to make a complaint to Ofsted and how you can request an internal review of Ofsted’s handling of your complaint if the complaint is not resolved to your satisfaction.

@Shinyandnew1

This information is of course very important.

As announced in November, the national average 3- and 4-year-old funding rate that local authorities will receive will increase by 26p per hour from £5.62 from September 2023 to £5.88 in 2024-25. Average funding rates for 2-year-olds in 2024-25 will be £8.28 per hour and for under twos, £11.22 per hour.

@MidnightPatrol

We want to make sure that government funding provides value for money and is able to support those who need it most, which is why it is necessary to set an eligibility threshold and only a very small proportion of parents earn over £100,000.

The universal 15 hours childcare offer remains in place for all parents of 3- and 4-year-olds, regardless of parental circumstances, including those who earn over £100,000. This is to help children to develop social skills and prepare them for school.

Parents can find out about the government-funded support they are eligible for on the Childcare Choices website: www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/ 

@Lighter22

We want to make sure that government funding provides value for money and is able to support those who need it most, which is why it is necessary to set an eligibility threshold and only a very small proportion of parents earn over £100,000.

The universal 15 hours childcare offer remains in place for all parents of 3- and 4-year-olds, regardless of parental circumstances, including those who earn over £100,000. This is to help children to develop social skills and prepare them for school.

Parents can find out about the government-funded support they are eligible for on the Childcare Choices website: https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

@Blanketbaby7

Thanks for your question.

Our average funding rates for new entitlements are expected to be substantially higher than the average hourly fees paid by parents last year, and we are already seeing providers looking to expand their placements across the country.

It is true that some providers may allow you to stretch your hours across the year, by using fewer hours over more weeks. This is intended to provide more flexibility, and parents can use Tax-Free Childcare to pay for additional costs over and above the entitlements.

Parents can contact their local authority’s Family Information Service to find out more about the types of provision in their area, for example if they wish to take up a 30 hours place which isn't stretched.

@PinkPink1

An eligible working parent with a child between 9 months old and 2 years old will have access to 15 hours childcare from September 2024. From September 2025, this will be extended to 30 hours childcare.

The hours are for 38 weeks/year during term-time. Some providers may allow you to 'stretch' your hours across the year, by using fewer hours over more weeks, giving you more flexibility.

We encourage you to sign up to the Childcare Choices newsletter to be notified when the application window opens and receive updates about the childcare support expansion: https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

@Ukrainebaby23

We wanted to make sure eligibility was as fair as possible when designing this policy. Both parents in a two-parent family must be earning at least the equivalent of 16 hours a week at national minimum/living wage and under £100,000 adjusted net income per year for you to be eligible, unless one parent is working and meeting this threshold and the other is receiving certain benefits.

However, it's worth remembering all families in England, regardless of their income, can get the universal childcare offer of 15 hours childcare for 3 and 4-year-olds. Similarly, families in England with a 2-year-old and receiving some additional forms of government support, can access 15 hours childcare.

So because only a small number of parents of preschoolers (still 80,000+ people - and growing given the freezing of thresholds) earn over £100k... it doesn't matter than they might pay £27,000 of tax on £25,000 of earnings?

I do not really understand this position from a conservative government. If you read the (many) threads on mumsnet about this, high earners are cutting their hours and loading money into their pensions (reducing overall tax take), because they do not want to work for free.

You have created an effective cap on the earnings of preschoolers at £100k.

What would your advice be to a parent earning £130,000 who is actually worse off than if they earned £99k, due to the loss of childcare support? What is the government wanting. people in this position to do?

Does the government then support a 100%+ tax rate on earnings of >£100k? Because that it what you have implied here.

@ShellT65

This is a very important question, and we definitely want to make sure parents are well aware of their options when it comes to before and after school childcare.

We recognise the challenge that working parents face when they have children in nursery and cannot find childcare for their other children of primary school age. That's why we are investing £289m to set up more before and after school childcare across England for primary school age children, from reception to Year 6. We call this ‘wraparound’ childcare and parents should expect to see an expansion in the availability of wraparound care from September 2024, with every parent who needs it able to access term-time wraparound childcare (8am – 6pm) by September 2026.

If they are eligible, your family member may be able to use Tax-Free Childcare and Universal Credit to help them pay for wraparound childcare. All parents have a right to request that their child’s school considers providing wraparound or holiday childcare for their children. Do ask your family member to talk to their child’s school or their local authority’s Family Information Service about their plans for participation in the National Wraparound Childcare Programme and how they can help them find the childcare they need for their children.

Further information can be found on the Ed Hub blog here: Before and after school childcare: Everything you need to know about wraparound care - The Education Hub (blog.gov.uk)

@LondonPapa

We want to make sure that government funding provides value for money and is able to support those who need it most, which is why it is necessary to set an eligibility threshold and only a very small proportion of parents earn over £100,000.

The universal 15 hours childcare offer remains in place for all parents of 3- and 4-year-olds, regardless of parental circumstances, including those who earn over £100,000. This is to help children to develop social skills and prepare them for school.

Parents can find out about the government-funded support they are eligible for on the Childcare Choices website: Childcare Choices | 30 Hours Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More | Help with Costs | GOV.UK

You say this rule is to ensure 'it helps support those who need it most'.

Why then is a household with two earners on £99k each eligible for 100% support despite a take home pay of potentially £10,834 a month...

... when a household with one earner on £100k and one on £27k will be eligible for only 15 hours at age 3, despite a take home pay of potentially £6,793?

Why is the first, higher earning couple, eligible for the support, but not the second?

@Ecnerual

Studying does not qualify as work for the purposes of the working entitlement. However, if students are able to work outside their studies, they could be eligible for the working entitlement, 15 or 30 hours, if they can meet the income thresholds.

They will remain eligible for the universal entitlement for all 3 and 4 year olds.

Students attending pre-registration nursing degree courses qualify for a fee loan to meet the full costs of their tuition and a partially means-tested loan for living costs from Student Finance England. Students required to attend their course on a full-time basis for more than 30 weeks and 3 days in an academic year qualify for additional means-tested living costs support as a long courses loan for each week or part week exceeding 30 weeks and 3 days. Students attending for 45 weeks or more receive the equivalent of 52 weeks support in long courses loan. And as you are already aware, full-time students with dependent children can apply for Childcare Grant and Parents Learning Allowance.

Student support including a childcare grant is provided to support students while they are attending higher education courses. The student support system is designed to support students to reap the benefits of a university education whilst sharing the cost of higher education fairly between students and taxpayers, not all of whom will have wanted to go to university.

The system targets the most living cost support at those from the lowest income families, who need it most.

The use of taxable income ensures that all students are treated equitably and allows large numbers of assessments for student finance to be carried out as quickly and accurately as possible. It also targets means-tested support for living costs at students from low-income backgrounds who are historically under-represented in Higher Education.

Means-testing only applies to certain elements of the student support package: full-time students get up-front loans to cover the full costs of their tuition and loan support towards living costs, 65% of which does not depend on household income.

The Learning Support Fund also pays for excess travel and temporary accommodation costs (Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses) for students on practice placements and provides additional help through the Exceptional Support Fund for students experiencing financial hardship.

A link to information on the Learning Support Fund is below:
https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/2022-01/NHS%20LSF%20guidance%20booklet%20%28V5%29%2001.2022_0.pdf

@AnotherCF

The £2,000 Tax-Free Childcare top up has been at this level to strike the right balance between helping parents with their childcare costs and managing the public finances in a responsible way. However, it’s very important to know that, if they are eligible, parents who are on Tax-Free Childcare can use it together with their 15- or 30-hours childcare to save them even more money on their childcare costs.

We are committed to supporting parents with their childcare costs. That’s why we are embarking on the biggest expansion to childcare ever, so that, from September 2025, eligible working parents in England will be able to access 30 hours childcare per week for 38 weeks per year from when their child is 9 months old up to school age. This is gradually being rolled out in phases, with the first one happening right now when parents of 2-year-olds can apply for 15 hours childcare to start in April. Through this expansion, we will be more than doubling the spend on the childcare hours and help more parents juggle work and home.

To check the childcare support you might be eligible for, now and in the future, visit the Childcare Choices website: Childcare Choices | 30 Hours Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More | Help with Costs | GOV.UK

It seems the crux of the matter is that the 30+ unpaid hours per week that healthcare students work in the NHS providing patient care are not valued. Treating the hours healthcare students spend working on clinical placement as studying disregards how these courses differ from traditional degrees. Clinical hours are in addition to the academic studying that is also required. The future value healthcare students will bring to the NHS workforce, and the benefits society reaps from having well trained healthcare professionals has also not been considered.

The long course loan you mentioned is only applicable to those who qualify for the SFE means tested maintenance loan. Those receiving only the non-means tested maintenance loan (household income > ~£60k pa ) cannot claim the additional long course loan even if on a long course (pre-registration midwifery courses are typically 45 weeks of the year). This loan is also intended for other living expenses and not just childcare. Similarly, the NHS learning support fund is paid to healthcare students with and without children so is not intended to exclusively cover childcare.

As I previously detailed, the childcare grant is only available to those with a household income <£27k pa). This is less than the median UK household income so many healthcare students will not qualify for it. It is right that the most support should be for those who need it most, but this does not change the fact that many healthcare students get very little support with childcare.

My family has a higher than average household income, yet we are stretched to our financial limit due to paying 38% of our net income on childcare for two children. Childcare is our single biggest monthly expense by far and our monthly outgoings are currently higher than our income. If not for having savings from before I started training to be a midwife we would currently be going into debt.

The NHS is short of 2500 midwives (which represents a shortage of >10% midwives required to provide safe care) so it's a shame those of us who want to train aren't better supported to do so.

A shame that you chose to ignore the question about SEND childcare @DavidJohnstonMP