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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Labour commits to full Tory childcare expansion plan | Labour commits to full Tory childcare expansion plan |
| (4 months later) | |
| Labour will back the childcare expansion plan being rolled out by the government if it wins the next general election. | Labour will back the childcare expansion plan being rolled out by the government if it wins the next general election. |
| Shadow education minister Bridget Phillipson has said Labour will not remove any entitlements promised to families "in the future". | Shadow education minister Bridget Phillipson has said Labour will not remove any entitlements promised to families "in the future". |
| The government announced an expansion of free childcare to all children under five in England in last year's Budget. | The government announced an expansion of free childcare to all children under five in England in last year's Budget. |
| There are three phases of expansion, with the final one in September 2025. | There are three phases of expansion, with the final one in September 2025. |
| Previously, 30 hours of free childcare was available for working parents with children aged three and four, although that is limited to 15 hours a week if at least one parent earns more than £100,000. | Previously, 30 hours of free childcare was available for working parents with children aged three and four, although that is limited to 15 hours a week if at least one parent earns more than £100,000. |
| From 1 April, working parents with two-year-olds are eligible for 15 hours of free childcare and that will be extended to nine-months from September this year. | From 1 April, working parents with two-year-olds are eligible for 15 hours of free childcare and that will be extended to nine-months from September this year. |
| From September 2025 the third phase will see hours of free childcare doubled to 30 hours a week for eligible parents. | From September 2025 the third phase will see hours of free childcare doubled to 30 hours a week for eligible parents. |
| Sunak defends rollout of free childcare hours | Sunak defends rollout of free childcare hours |
| Sunak defends rollout of free childcare hours | Sunak defends rollout of free childcare hours |
| Labour starts review of government childcare plan | Labour starts review of government childcare plan |
| Labour starts review of government childcare plan | Labour starts review of government childcare plan |
| Who gets 15 hours of free childcare and how do I apply? | Who gets 15 hours of free childcare and how do I apply? |
| Who gets 15 hours of free childcare and how do I apply? | Who gets 15 hours of free childcare and how do I apply? |
| Previously, Labour has said the expansion "would not be reduced" if the party takes power in a general election expected to take place in 2024. | Previously, Labour has said the expansion "would not be reduced" if the party takes power in a general election expected to take place in 2024. |
| The party also commissioned a review of childcare, led by former senior Ofsted figure Sir David Bell, in October. | The party also commissioned a review of childcare, led by former senior Ofsted figure Sir David Bell, in October. |
| Labour's shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson has asked for a review of the scheme | Labour's shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson has asked for a review of the scheme |
| Labour's shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson has asked for a review of the scheme | Labour's shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson has asked for a review of the scheme |
| Ms Phillipson told the BBC's Newsnight programme last month that Labour would not commit to the £4bn plan, saying the government risks "crashing the childcare system" due to a lack of places for parents with struggling providers. | Ms Phillipson told the BBC's Newsnight programme last month that Labour would not commit to the £4bn plan, saying the government risks "crashing the childcare system" due to a lack of places for parents with struggling providers. |
| That sparked an attack by education secretary Gillian Keegan, who claimed a Labour win could put the scheme "at risk". | That sparked an attack by education secretary Gillian Keegan, who claimed a Labour win could put the scheme "at risk". |
| In a letter to her Labour counterpart, Ms Keegan wrote: "Parents have told me that they are now uncertain whether they should go back to work, grow their families, or take a promotion, because they don't know if they will still have this childcare provision. | In a letter to her Labour counterpart, Ms Keegan wrote: "Parents have told me that they are now uncertain whether they should go back to work, grow their families, or take a promotion, because they don't know if they will still have this childcare provision. |
| "Will the Labour party commit to supporting our policy of giving working parents 30 hours free childcare a week from when their child is nine months old to when they start school? | "Will the Labour party commit to supporting our policy of giving working parents 30 hours free childcare a week from when their child is nine months old to when they start school? |
| "If not, how would you make up for the 60,000 fewer people in work that our policy will support?" | "If not, how would you make up for the 60,000 fewer people in work that our policy will support?" |
| Ms Phillipson responded with a letter of her own, promising a reformed childcare system that will "stand the test of time". | Ms Phillipson responded with a letter of her own, promising a reformed childcare system that will "stand the test of time". |
| "I am delighted to see the Conservatives have finally woken up to the importance of childcare after 14 years of smashing the system to pieces," she wrote. | "I am delighted to see the Conservatives have finally woken up to the importance of childcare after 14 years of smashing the system to pieces," she wrote. |
| "As we have made abundantly clear, Labour will not be removing any entitlements offered to families now or those promised to them in the future. | "As we have made abundantly clear, Labour will not be removing any entitlements offered to families now or those promised to them in the future. |
| "Your suggestion to the contrary is an outright lie - and the public will not believe a word of it." | "Your suggestion to the contrary is an outright lie - and the public will not believe a word of it." |
| The party has published a dossier, with some parents complaining of high costs and extra fees to pay while others reported 18-month waiting lists at some nurseries. | The party has published a dossier, with some parents complaining of high costs and extra fees to pay while others reported 18-month waiting lists at some nurseries. |
| One nursery warned it could be "forced to go bust" under the government's expanded offer, the dossier claimed. | One nursery warned it could be "forced to go bust" under the government's expanded offer, the dossier claimed. |
| Ms Keegan said she was confident that the childcare sector is ready to deliver the offer and make sure parents have the childcare they need. | Ms Keegan said she was confident that the childcare sector is ready to deliver the offer and make sure parents have the childcare they need. |
| She said: "Last year, we committed to delivering the largest ever expansion of childcare that England has ever seen. | She said: "Last year, we committed to delivering the largest ever expansion of childcare that England has ever seen. |
| "And with over 150,000 children about to begin accessing a government-funded childcare place in just over two weeks, it's clear our plan is working." | "And with over 150,000 children about to begin accessing a government-funded childcare place in just over two weeks, it's clear our plan is working." |
| Related topics | |
| Childcare | Childcare |