Conservatives confirm early years expansion plans in manifesto
by Jess Gibson
The Conservative Party has launched its manifesto today, confirming the rollout of the early entitlement expansion, as planned.
The manifesto stated that, from September 2024, eligible parents of children between nine months and two years old will be able to access 15 hours of 鈥榝ree鈥 early education and childcare per week in the next phase of the expansion鈥檚 rollout 鈥 the first phase of which began in April 2024.
From September 2025, the number of 鈥榝ree鈥 hours eligible parents of children from nine months old will be able to access will increase to 30 hours per week.
In addition, the Conservative manifesto highlights the party鈥檚 鈥渃ommitment鈥 to 鈥渋ncreasing hourly funding rates over the next two years by an estimated 拢500 million鈥, increase the recruitment of educators, including childminders, and create more places, while also reducing the time spent on paperwork.
Commenting, Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, said:
"We know that the early entitlement expansion aims to make it easier for families to access affordable high quality early years care and education. Yet, for the sector to be able to deliver these hours sustainably it is absolutely vital that longstanding and severe challenging facing the sector 鈥 primarily underfunding and staffing 鈥 are addressed. 鈥
"As such, while the Conservative鈥檚 manifesto includes a commitment to continue the expansion鈥檚 rollout, as well as a reminder of a previous promise to set aside 拢500m over the next two years to increase funding rates, this alone remains far from enough to safeguard the sector鈥檚 future and ensure that providers are able to meet the likely surge in demand for places over the next few years.鈥
"Ultimately, with just weeks to go until the election, we hope that every political party realises that for families to reap the rewards of early education and care, adequate long-term sector funding and a comprehensive staffing strategy - with an equal focus on recruitment and retention - must be at the heart of any policy plans."鈥