Improving childcare for working parents ‘a government priority’

Improving childcare options for working parents is a government priority, a minister has stated.

Education minister Stephen Morgan said the government is committed to offering better costs, choice and availability to parents in employment.

“We want all families to benefit from the childcare support they are entitled to,” he commented.

This, he said, would enable parents to go work and give children the best start in life.

Better access to before and after school clubs

Mr Morgan flagged up before and after school clubs as one key focus for ministers right now.

He said the government is “improving access to before and after school care through the national wraparound childcare programme”, and has given councils over £160m to make this happen.

“This government’s ambition is that by 2026, all parents and carers of primary school-aged children who need it will be able to access term-time childcare in their local area from 8am to 6pm,” Mr Morgan commented.

Free breakfast clubs

A nationwide rollout of free breakfast clubs is one of the key measures in the government’s children’s wellbeing and schools bill. 

Up to 750 state-funded schools with primary aged pupils will start delivering free breakfast clubs from April 2025. 

This will be part of a “test and learn” phase and “inform the delivery of a national rollout”.

“This new offer will also support parents to have more choices on when to work and will support families with the cost of childcare,” Mr Morgan said.

Childcare support for parents

Mr Morgan added that parents who need extra help with costs may be eligible for support through tax-free childcare or universal credit childcare.

He encouraged parents to check what childcare support they might be entitled to via the Childcare Choices website.

Help for parents is available

If you’re a parent and you’re struggling with expenses such as childcare costs, then we can help.

We offer free and impartial money advice and can help you with:

• finding out what benefits you’re entitled to
• working out a household budget
• finding the right debt solutions (some are free, while others have a fee)

All of our debt advice is free and impartial, and you can access it online 24/7 or over the phone during our office hours - 0161 518 8285.