More than quarter of a million two-year-olds in England will have access to free childcare under new plans announced by the British government.

The British Chancellor has announced that 15 hours free nursery education each week will be offered to around 40% of the country’s two-year-olds. The money will be distributed by local authorities and will be targeted mainly at disadvantaged families.

The scheme is designed to boost participation in early childhood education among children who might not necessarily otherwise attend.

It expands on a scheme announced last year which offered free childcare for two-year-olds to the poorest fifth of families in England.

A Government source said the plan was designed to "close the gaps between young children that are opening up even before they hang up their coats for their first day at school".  Currently only four out of ten two-year-olds from disadvantaged families attend any formal early childhood education, compared to 72% participation among wealthy families.

It is also designed to help mothers return to work at least part-time.

It is expected that the British government will have to borrow more money to pay for this and other schemes announced in its Autumn Statement. Public sector pay rises have been capped and a planned child tax credit increase has been scrapped.

Three and four-year-olds are already entitled to 15 hours free care a week for 38 weeks of the year.

New Zealand’s National Government has also announced plans to encourage mothers away from benefits and back to work but has not said yet how it will ensure that childcare which is suitable and affordable will be available for these mothers.  

The NZ Government has said it wants to encourage participation in parts of the community which currently have low participation rates which include Maori and Pacific communities and families living within low school decile areas.

See also

The Value of Parenting and the Concept of Using Childcare/Early Childhood Education

Early Childhood Education Under a New National Government

Fears for the Future in the Early Childhood Sector