Childcare and early years debate in House of Commons main chamber

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• Inquiry: Support for childcare and the early years 
• Education Committee

The Estimates Day Debate in the Commons main chamber, one of several debates held in the run up to the Budget, will see Children and Families Minister Claire Coutinho respond to MPs’ questions.  

The first to speak in the debate will be Committee Chair Robin Walker MP. The event coincides with the cross-party Committee’s ongoing inquiry into childcare and early years education. 

A poll of 20,000 working parents by the Early Years Alliance last year found that 97% believe childcare is too expensive, while this year’s Family and Childcare Survey showed that the average price of full-time nursery care for a child aged under two stands at over £270 a week.  

A report by the Social Mobility Commission found that early-years practitioners experience comparatively low pay, high work demands and low social status, which contribute to high staff turnover.  

Chair's comments

Education Committee Chair Robin Walker MP said:

“The childcare sector is intrinsically valuable because it has the potential to allow millions of parents to continue with their careers at a time when labour shortages are undermining economic growth, while also giving young children a huge head start in their pre-school education and development. 

The Prime Minister has rightly said that education is the closest thing we have to a silver bullet for improving people’s lives. Yet all the increases in spending on education have been directed at schools, and not childcare or the early years. 

I am delighted that backbenchers from across the House endorsed our bid for this debate to be held, which highlights the strength of feeling about this issue among members and parents in constituencies throughout the country.” 

The Education Committee’s bid for the debate was endorsed by backbench MPs including the Conservative Health and Social Care Committee Chair Steve Brine; Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran; Conservative former Work and Pensions Minister Justin Tomlinson; and Labour’s Shadow Minister for Natural Environment Lloyd Russell-Moyle. 

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

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