
Speaking at the Labour conference yesterday, shadow chancellor Ed Balls pledged to increase free childcare places for three- and four-year-olds from 15 hours a week to 25 if the party wins the next election. This would be paid for by raising £800m with an increase in the bank levy, Balls said.
Anne Longfield, chief executive of 4Children, praised the policy as “relevant” and “forward thinking”.
She said: “Though this policy would present a real challenge to the sector over how quickly it could be implemented, particularly in terms of training the additional qualified staff needed, the development would not only enable parents to join the workforce and support them with their childcare arrangements, but would also benefit many disadvantaged children by enhancing their exposure to high-quality support in stimulating and fun settings.”
Alison Garnham, chief executive of Child Poverty Action Group, also welcomed the policy as a potentially “crucial step” towards universal childcare provision.
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