Childcare: Eligibility
Lords · Question HL14921 · Tabled 26 Feb 2026 · Department for Education · Official record
Answered 12 Mar 2026
Question
Asked by Lord Bird
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the (1) total number, and (2) percentage, of parents eligible for 30 hours of free childcare who have not used those hours in the most recent period for which data is available; and what assessment they have made of
Answer
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern, 12 Mar 2026
It is our ambition that all families have access to high-quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change.As of January 2025, 1.7 million eligible children were regi...