Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
Recommendation 36
36
Deferred
Childcare availability and affordability are crucial for increasing female entrepreneurship rates.
Recommendation
The availability and affordability of childcare must be addressed to increase entrepreneurship rates among women. Making childcare more easily available and affordable would benefit the founding, performance and persistence of female-led businesses, while being vital for reconciling work and family demands and promoting individual wellbeing. (Conclusion, Paragraph 137)
Government response summary AI-generated
The government has deferred a comprehensive response, stating the Department for Education will lead a review of childcare provision to simplify the system. The response also highlights existing initiatives like Tax-Free Childcare and the expansion of government-funded childcare, and mentions future plans for nannies will be set out in the coming months.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government · verbatim extract
Deferred
As set out in the Budget, the Department for Education will lead a review of childcare provision. The purpose of this review is to simplify the system for providers and families, making it easier to access childcare and increasing the overall impact of the government’s offer. We are committed to a childcare system that is clear, fair and helps parents balance work and family life. Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) reduces the cost of childcare so that parents, including those who are self-employed, can enter work, stay in work and increase their hours. Under the scheme, for every £8 paid into an account by parents, the Government contributes an additional £2, up to £2,000 per child per year (or £4,000 for disabled children). Support is available until the child reaches age 11, or age 16 if disabled, for families who meet the same income criteria as the Free Childcare for Working Parents offer. TFC can pay for a wide range of approved childcare, including childminders, nurseries, nannies, after-school clubs, play schemes and holiday clubs, ensuring support is flexible and can be adapted to families’ different circumstances. In 2026–27 the Department for Education expect to provide over £9.5 billion for the early years entitlements. More than doubling government investment in the early years sector since 2023–24 through the successfully rolled-out expansion of government-funded childcare for working parents, which will save parents up to £7,500 a year on average.
Read the full response on Parliament ↗