New analysis from Southampton Labour reveals that well over 3,000 children aged from 9 months to 2 years in Southampton will be entitled to 30 hours free childcare from September.

The extension to all qualifying children fulfils a Labour manifesto commitment to cut the cost of childcare, helping more parents into work or training, and reducing the cost of living for young families. 

30 hours of government-funded childcare could save working parents £7,500 a year. Families can check their entitlements at www.childcarechoices.gov.uk. At the same time Labour has put in place protections for parents to further bear down on the cost of childcare by preventing ‘top up fees’ and overcharging for nappies, lunch and other ‘consumables’.

In our first year in government, Labour has had to fix the foundations of our national education system:

• Turning the tide on teacher recruitment and retention with 2,300 more teachers in classrooms, 1,000 more in training,
• Driving up attendance with 140,000 fewer children persistently absent and 3 million school days gained
• We’ve made good on the promises made in our manifesto, including:
•  2 million meals served at our free breakfast clubs
• More mental health support in our schools
• Raising money for public services by ending private schools’ tax breaks

And crucially, we are lifting over 100,000 children out of poverty by expanding free school meals eligibility

Publishing the analysis, Labour’s Amanda Barnes-Andrews, Cabinet Member for Children and Learning, said,

“Labour promised to take action to bring down the cost of childcare and that’s exactly what we are doing in Southampton. From this month thousands more children will gain support worth up to £7,500 a year – that makes a real difference.   

We’re offering new opportunities by opening a school-based nursery at Valentine Primary School which will receive 40 children age 0-5 from September.

So, through extended free childcare, more school-based nursery places and greater access to free school meals Labour is taking real action to help working parents give children the best start in life.”