£50m childcare grant scheme announced

The Education Secretary Justine Greening has announced a £50 million grant scheme to provide thousands of new childcare places.

The government has confirmed a list of successful projects benefitting from grants which will help to deliver its 30 hours free childcare offer.

The confirmed projects will create almost 9,000 free places for eligible 3- and 4-year-olds, saving parents around £5,000 per year when it is rolled out from next September.

Almost 200 nurseries and pre-schools will receive a share of this funding to invest in new buildings, convert old ones and upgrade facilities.

Greening said: "We want Britain to be a country that works for everyone, not just the privileged few. That means removing the barriers facing parents who are struggling to balance their jobs with the cost of childcare, and spreading the opportunities available to hard-working families across the country.

"This funding means we can make more free places available to more families across the country, helping us to deliver our childcare offer to thousands more children."

The announcement is in addition the £6 billion per year investment for childcare by 2020 and follows the recent publication of a new funding system for early years education.

This formula will see the minimum hourly rate for councils increased to £4.30 per hour, ensuring the 30 hours free offer is sustainable for providers.