The Local Authority (Duty to Secure Early Years Provision Free of Charge) and Childcare (Free of Charge for Working Parents) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2024
Introduction
The Local Authority (Duty to Secure Early Years Provision Free of Charge) and Childcare (Free of Charge for Working Parents) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 are a set of regulations that amend the existing legislation governing the provision of free early years education and childcare in England. The regulations were laid before Parliament on 29th November 2024 and came into force on 1st April 2025.
Key Provisions
The key provisions of the regulations are as follows:
- Extension of free entitlement to 30 hours per week for all two-year-olds. From September 2025, all two-year-olds in England will be entitled to 30 hours of free early years provision per week. This will be an increase from the current entitlement of 15 hours per week.
- Extension of eligibility for free childcare to families with one working parent. From April 2026, families with one working parent will be eligible for 30 hours of free childcare per week if the parent meets certain income criteria. This will extend the current eligibility criteria, which only applies to families with two working parents.
- Increase in funding for local authorities. The government will provide additional funding to local authorities to support the delivery of the extended free entitlement.
Implementation
The regulations will be implemented by local authorities. Local authorities will be responsible for ensuring that there is sufficient provision of free early years places in their area to meet the needs of all eligible children. They will also be responsible for assessing the eligibility of families for free childcare and for making payments to childcare providers.
Impact
The regulations are expected to have a significant impact on the provision of early years education and childcare in England. The extension of the free entitlement to 30 hours per week for all two-year-olds is likely to lead to an increase in the number of children accessing early years provision. The extension of eligibility for free childcare to families with one working parent is also likely to lead to an increase in the number of families accessing childcare.
The regulations are also expected to have a positive impact on the economy. By making it easier for parents to access childcare, the regulations are expected to help to increase the number of parents in work. This is likely to lead to an increase in economic growth.
Conclusion
The Local Authority (Duty to Secure Early Years Provision Free of Charge) and Childcare (Free of Charge for Working Parents) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 are a significant step forward for the provision of early years education and childcare in England. The regulations will extend the free entitlement to 30 hours per week for all two-year-olds and will extend the eligibility for free childcare to families with one working parent. The regulations are expected to have a positive impact on the economy and on the lives of families in England.
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