Valerie calls on Government to guarantee 30 hours free childcare in the Autumn Statement

I support the call for a guarantee in the Autumn Statement for the Government to fully fund its promise to offer 30 hours free childcare per week.

In Walsall, the number of childcare places has decreased by 871 between 2009-2015, and the number of childcare providers has decreased by 107. Many of my constituents depend on the invaluable services of their local childcare providers.

The Government’s promise is in disarray with hundreds of nurseries facing closure, Pre-school Learning Alliance’s survey shows that 750 providers fear closure.

In 41 local authorities, providers of nursery places in primary schools will receive less per hour per child than was delegated to them by the local authority in 2015-16. In Walsall, the Government’s Early Years Funding Formula will mean that the average funding for childcare providers will be reduced to £4.22 per hour in 2017/2018, a reduction of £0.57 per hour.

It is important to give every child the best start in life. The Chancellor needs to provide a guarantee in the Autumn Statement to fully fund this promise.