Today the government has announced that applications for final expansion to the 30 hours government-funded childcare are open.  They also share research findings into the impact of the rollout from September 24 following a parent survey and the launch of a consultation on how to make better use of outdoor space.

Applications for final phase of funded childcare now open

From today (12 May), all eligible working parents of children who will be at least 9 months old on or before 31 August can apply for 30 childcare a week.  For those who are already accessing the 15 hours, they do not need to reapply but must continue to re-confirm their eligibility every 3 months as normal and their existing code will update automatically for those who are eligible.

This means that all eligible working families can no apply for 30 hours of childcare from the term after their child turns 9 months until they reach school age..

Childcare Choices 12 May Stakeholder Mini Toolkit 

Parent Survey findings

A government survey of parents who took up the childcare entitlements last September has shown that parents feel the rollout has supported them by breaking down barriers and supporting them to access work.  playing a key role in supporting British business and kick-starting economic growth. The survey also shows that more than 50% of the parents that responded intend to increase their work hours in September 25.

EYFS space requirements consultation

With evidence showing the significant benefits of outdoor play for children, the government has also today launched a consultation on how it can help nurseries make better use of outdoor space for play and learning. Currently, the early years framework only formally recognises indoor space within its requirements for the number of children a setting can cater for at any one time.  However, 7 in 10 providers say they would make better use of their outdoor space if more flexibility was introduced.

The consultation will seek to understand whether to allow providers to include high-quality, accessible and safe outdoor space in meeting those requirements, and the appropriate conditions to be put in place should they include gardens and play areas as a full part of the early learning experience for the youngest children into practice. You can find all this and more in our Learning Hub.