The Government has said it has no plans to review early years funding, in response to a parliamentary petition signed by thousands – however a cross-party committee of MPs has commissioned a survey of providers and parents to look at childcare costs.
The petition calling for an independent review of childcare funding and affordability has received more than 110,00 signatures.
The Government responded to the petition on 23 June, stating, ‘We are not currently planning a review of early years funding, but we continue to evaluate the support on offer and endeavour to provide support to both parents and providers to ensure the sustainability of the sector.’
However, it will be debated in Parliament, but no date has been set yet.
Meanwhile, the Petitions Committee – a cross-party group of MPs appointed by the House of Commons that considers e-petitions and public petitions – has said it will be looking into this issue further and has launched a new survey of parents and providers on how the pandemic has affected the cost and provision of childcare.
MPs on the Petitions Committee want to know what’s changed for new parents one year on from their report into the impact of Covid-19 on maternity and parental leave, published last July. The committee is also considering how the pandemic has affected the cost and provision of childcare.
The committee would like to hear from:
- New parents who are on, are about to, or have taken maternity, parental or adoptive leave in the last 12 months
- Parents who use, or have attempted to use, informal and formal childcare over the last 12 months
- Childcare providers