Written question WQ100341

As I set out in my oral statement on childcare expansion on 14 July, current modelling suggests that extending funded provision to children aged 9 months to 4 years would require additional core childcare funding of £250 million to £500 million at today’s prices, with £375 million as the midpoint estimate. The precise funding requirement will depend on take-up rates, with current assumptions of 50% to 80% informing the lower and upper estimates.

Work is ongoing with our economists and analysts to test and model a range of variables, which includes the costs at each phase of expansion and potential take-up rates.

As advised by our Expansion of Childcare Expert Steering Group, we will also take account not only of workforce costs, but a range of factors including training and development, additional learning needs, local authority support and capital.