A number of new childcare improvements were announced in the Spring Budget last week - but how will they impact everyone? Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced 30 hours of free childcare for every child over the age of 9 months, partly to give people more opportunity of going back to work, helping to solve a recruitment crisis.
The change will follow the same rules as the current provision for working families for 3 and 4 year old children. This means that it will provide 30 hours of free childcare or early education for 38 weeks. This amounts to a total of 1,140 hours per year, that parents can use flexibly with one or more childcare provider.
Some providers allow parents to ‘stretch’ the hours over 52 weeks, using fewer hours per week. Announcing the change Mr Hunt said: “Our plan is working – inflation falling, debt down and a growing economy.
