Speaking in a House of Commons debate on the issue, Goodwill said that the government has started drawing up plans to ensure children in foster care are eligible for the extended free entitlement, which was introduced in September.
Under the current policy, 30 hours of free childcare is available for parents of three and-four-year-olds if both work more than 16 hours per week and earn less than £100,000 a year.
Earlier this month, Goodwill said that foster children are entitled to only 15 hours, whether their carers are in work or not, affecting more than 3,000 foster children.
But he told MPs yesterday that this stance will be reversed and the government has already started working with councils and The Fostering Network on details of extending the 30 hours eligibility to carers.
Further discussions are set to take place involving foster carers and other fostering organisations next month and Goodwill hopes carers will be eligible to the 30 hours offer from September 2018.
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