麻花影视

 

The Labour party has pledged to extend the current 30-hours childcare offer if it wins the general election on 8 June.

 

A party spokesperson confirmed today that, under a Labour government, all children aged three and four would be entitled to 30-hours of funded childcare a week, not just those from working families. The party has also pledged to extend the offer to all two-year-olds.

 

Currently, all three and four year olds are entitled to 15-hours of funded childcare each week, while some working families will be able to claim a further 15-hours from September onwards. The current system also offers 15-hours childcare to two year olds from poorer backgrounds, based on their family鈥檚 income. Labour estimates that under their manifesto plans an additional 1.3 million children in Britain would be entitled to the offer, compared to the Conservative鈥檚 existing offer.

 

A Labour party spokesperson confirmed to Under 5: 鈥淲e will extend current commitments on free hours to all parents, not just those in work, benefitting 626,739 additional three and four year olds on top of the 390,000 who qualify currently.鈥� 

 

The announcement comes after the Labour party鈥檚 manifesto was leaked last week. The leaked document pledged to 鈥渙verhaul鈥� the current childcare system and make 鈥渟ignificant鈥� capital investment in the early years to increase the number of available spaces.

 

Neil Leitch, chief executive at the Alliance, welcomed the manifesto鈥檚 focus on early education, but questioned how the scheme would be funded. He said: 鈥淚t is positive to see the importance of quality early years care and education recognised in Labour鈥檚 manifesto. That said, experience has taught us to be sceptical of claims of fully-funded 鈥榝ree childcare鈥� schemes.鈥�

 

Neil added: 鈥淚f Labour鈥檚 policy鈥� costings are based on existing