Landmark as nurseries welcome funded nine month old children for the first time
From this week, nurseries across England are welcoming children as young as nine months old into their settings on funded 15-hour places.
This is the second phase of the childcare expansion announced by the previous Chancellor at the Budget in March 2023.
Working parents with young children can take up their place from the term after they turn nine months old.
Purnima Tanuku OBE, Chief Executive of NDNA said: “We support the Government’s commitment to investing in our youngest children’s futures. This is something that families are really needing in order to give their children the best start in life and also enable parents to work.
“Supporting children early in their development means they have the foundations for learning and the necessary social skills to give them a brighter future, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. We are keen for all children to have access to early education and care – the early investment pays dividends in their later education and eventual professional lives.
“Nurseries and other providers have had less than a year and a half to prepare for this roll-out but we know they have been working flat out to make this policy a reality. Many nurseries have waiting lists for babies and very young children so we would advise families to apply for their place as soon as they can and speak with their provider of choice at the earliest opportunity.
“For the expansion to be a success, the early education sector must attract more people into the profession. We look forward to working with the Department for Education on measures that will boost numbers of students on training courses and to help providers to recruit and retain qualified, dedicated staff who make all the difference to children’s lives.”
The next phase of the expansion takes place from September 2025 when children in working households can take up a 30-hour place from the term after they turn nine months old.
Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson has sent this comment to the sector regarding the childcare expansion:
“I (also) want to update you on our plans for early education and childcare. It’s a top priority for me and for this government. So I am committed to working with you to deliver the increased hours of government-funded childcare that parents have been promised. This week, hundreds of thousands of working parents will receive 15 funded hours for their young children for the first time – thank you to all the providers who have worked so hard to make this possible. I have been up front with parents that delivering these entitlements won’t be plain sailing – for example – not all parents will get their first choice of childcare place.
“I am pleased to confirm that the 2025 childcare commitment to increase this to 30 funded hours will go ahead. However, I am being similarly open with parents that there will be many challenges in delivering what was promised to them and that, as with this year, they may not be able to take up their first choice. Over the coming weeks and months, we will set out plans for reform in more detail.”
- England
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