The first phase of the program, which will provide two-year-olds with 15 hours of daycare per week, will begin in April of this year. The plans to expand the availability of free childcare were first announced by the Conservative government that was in power in 2023.
In September 2025, there will be an additional expansion that will grant all children from nine months to five years old free childcare for thirty hours per week.
Though Labour’s now-Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson made the pledge earlier this year, Tory officials had doubted the party would stick to its objectives.
She also stated, “I’ve already said that early years is my number one priority,” prior to the rollout. We are implementing the childcare rollout because I know it will greatly assist working parents.
But worries about the industry’s ability to handle the increase in daycare spots have persisted; an additional 85,000 spots are required by the end of the year to finish the rollout.
