A range of childcare measures introduced in the UK Spring Budget 2023 will make work pay, support parents back into work and help more people get on the career ladder. Free childcare for children aged between 9 months and 2 years old was announced in the Budget, allowing parents to choose flexible childcare that suits their circumstances. It’s estimated that around 1.3 million parents will benefit from this measure, which is being introduced in 2023. The Chancellor also announced funding for an additional 15,000 places for children aged 2-4 at the most popular nurseries and childminders, to help parents who work part-time or on zero-hours contracts. From 2023, parents of three and four-year-olds will also be able to claim 30 hours of free childcare a week. This builds on the current offer of 15 hours per week for children aged 3-4 years old.
Funding for wrap-around extra school clubs was also announced to provide childcare between 8 am and 6 pm. The Chancellor announced that the Government will provide £1 billion of funding to support schools, colleges and local authorities to provide wrap-around extra school clubs so that parents can work more hours.
Childcare for those on universal credit will now be paid upfront, rather than requiring parents to struggle with reclaiming it later on. This is a welcome move, as it will mean that parents will not have to wait to be paid back by the Government and can receive the support they need much more quickly.
By helping with the cost of childcare, we can ensure that a career break doesn’t turn into a career end and help people to feel more secure in their decision to start a family.
