Education Secretary calls for universal 30-hour early years entitlement

The Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, is expected to announce plans to expand the current 30 hours funded childcare offer to include low-income families who presently fall outside the eligibility criteria. At present, the entitlement is restricted to working parents, meaning children from the most disadvantaged households often miss out on this foundational early education opportunity. This proposed policy shift marks a significant step towards universal early years provision and reflects growing recognition that access to high-quality childcare should not depend on parental employment status. For local authorities tasked with implementing such an expansion, the announcement raises immediate questions about sufficiency of places, workforce capacity, and whether funding rates will reflect the true cost of delivering 30 hours of early education to all families.