Gyimah visits France for ideas on free childcare expansion

The Department for Education (DfE) said Gyimah spent two days in Paris to exchange ideas on expanding access to high-quality childcare.

It said “innovative ways” of delivering early years education in France include “bridging classes”, which help children get ready for school, crèches that coach parents back to work and childcare centres based in nursing homes.

It also highlighted the work of pre-schools that support the parents of children who are at risk of being taken into care.

Gyimah said: “We are committed to making sure that every family regardless of their background has access to high-quality, affordable childcare.

“And in France, high-quality childcare is central to efforts to support families to balance their work and home life.

“That’s why I’m keen to find out what works for them, and share best practice with our European neighbours.”

The DfE said that during Gyimah’s visit to France, which took place last week, he met with practitioners and visited a number of providers, including Crèche la Maison de Gavroche, to see how childcare can be scaled up in disadvantaged communities.

He also visited the Crèche l’Arc-en-Ciel, where he heard about how unemployed and single parents can be helped back to work, with support such as wraparound care and CV writing workshops.

The visit comes after the French minister for childhood, family, ageing and autonomy, Laurence Rossignol, visited London in February.

Earlier this month, appearing before the education select committee, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said the response to a government appeal for trailblazers to put themselves forward for trials of the expanded 30-hour offer, due to get under way next September, has been positive.

“We have had hundreds of providers coming forward since Sam Gyimah and I opened up the bidding for people to be pilots, bidding to come forward and be early providers,” she said.