ouncils will get an additional £204 million to assist them ship a serious enlargement of free childcare introduced within the March finances, the Education Secretary has stated.

Gillian Keegan advised a convention for city corridor chiefs the cash, which native authorities will get from September, will enable them to extend the hourly charges they pay suppliers.

Funding allocations for every native authority can be confirmed later this week however the quantity will rise annually, she added.

She advised the Local Government Association Conference in Bournemouth: “It’s hard for young families to balance both their children’s education and their own careers, especially with financial challenges and especially in the early years.

“Parents in 2022 were paying nearly 6% more for childcare for under-twos and 6.4% more for two-year-olds than they were the previous year.

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“This is why the Chancellor pledged the single-biggest investment in childcare this country has ever seen, and why by 2028 we will have doubled spending on childcare with more than £8 billion every year on early years education.”

The Government has already introduced £289 million of funding to assist councils arrange and ship wraparound childcare, which can develop into obtainable subsequent yr.

From April subsequent yr, working mother and father of two-year-olds will be capable of entry 15 hours of free childcare.

This can be prolonged to all youngsters older than 9 months from September subsequent yr.

From September 2025, working mother and father of under-fives can be entitled to 30 hours free childcare per week.

Some have labelled these 'ghost youngsters' – however I don’t like that label – they're actual youngsters, and their potential is being minimize quick

Ms Keegan additionally advised the convention too many youngsters are usually not attending college commonly and she or he is “determined” to repair the issue.

Thousands of youngsters, dubbed ‘ghost children’, have by no means returned to class because the first pandemic lockdown started, whereas absence charges have soared.

She stated: “Sadly, tragically, too many children are not attending school regularly, are persistently absent or, are missing education altogether.

“Some have labelled these ‘ghost children’ – but I don’t like that label – they are real children, and their potential is being cut short.

“I am determined we fix this, and I am grateful for the work you have already done with schools and families to ensure that they and their children get the right support.”

She insisted that “bit by bit, little by little”, the Government’s method, which incorporates attendance advisers working with round 115 councils, is working.

She went on: “This is critical in the next few months as we know that children who miss the first few days of the new term, without good reason, are much more likely to miss long periods of their schooling than their peers.

“By September we want to be welcoming as many children back to school as possible.

“I believe, truly, that not only can we get this right, but that working together, we will get this right.”