Labour Party’s Commitment to Childcare | Key Intentions from the 2024 Conference

labour conference teaching image

At the 2024 Labour Party Conference, the party unveiled a comprehensive plan to reform childcare in the UK, focusing on tackling affordability, accessibility, and quality.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson placed early years education at the heart of Labour’s policy agenda, reinforcing the party’s commitment to creating a childcare system that supports working families and fosters children’s development.

Building on existing government initiatives and Labour’s own proposals, the party’s childcare plan promises transformative change to how families access early education.

Expansion of Childcare Places in School-Based Nurseries

A cornerstone of Labour’s childcare vision is the expansion of childcare places through new school-based nurseries, which will be available to families from next year.

Bridget Phillipson emphasised that early years are her “first priority” and that Labour is determined to address the “threadbare” childcare system inherited from the Conservatives.

The expansion includes opening 3,000 new nurseries by making use of underutilised spaces in primary schools. These facilities will provide the additional government-funded childcare hours that working parents are entitled to.

While the Conservative government began rolling out expanded childcare hours in April 2024, Labour’s approach goes further by integrating early education directly into the school system, with the aim of providing high-quality care and education for children as young as nine months.

The first phase of this nursery expansion will begin in 2025, with £15 million in capital funding allocated to schools that successfully bid to create up to 300 new or expanded nurseries.

This initiative will allow local schools to respond to community demand for childcare places and provide greater accessibility for families.

It represents the first step towards fulfilling Labour’s long-term ambition to deliver 3,000 new nurseries across the country.

Free Childcare for Children Aged 9 Months to Four Years

Labour’s childcare policy also builds on the existing Conservative initiative that began offering 15 hours of funded childcare for working parents of children aged nine months and older.

Labour’s proposals extend this by aiming to provide fully funded, 30 hours per week for all eligible families by 2025.

By integrating this expansion with new school-based nurseries, Labour seeks to create a seamless system where families can access high-quality early education within their local primary schools.

This expansion aims to address two major challenges: the affordability crisis faced by parents and the gaps in childcare availability that have prevented many families from accessing the hours they need.

By lowering the cost burden for working parents, Labour hopes to encourage higher workforce participation, particularly among mothers, who are often disproportionately affected by high childcare costs.

Tackling Educational Inequality from an Early Age

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Labour’s childcare reform is not just about enabling parents to return to work but also about ensuring children’s development. Bridget Phillipson stressed that “so much in life depends on those crucial early years before school, when the gaps between rich and poor open up.”

Labour’s intention is to provide universal access to early education, which research shows can significantly improve a child’s cognitive and social development, laying a strong foundation for their future.

The expansion of nursery places in primary schools also addresses the call for more equitable early years education.

Sir Peter Lampl, founder of the Sutton Trust, praised the government’s plan for more school-based nurseries but warned that disadvantaged children—who stand to benefit most from early education—are still excluded from some of the expanded provisions.

This is a challenge Labour must address to ensure its mission of equalising opportunity begins with the youngest children.

Addressing Workforce Challenges and Infrastructure

One of the major hurdles Labour faces in implementing its childcare vision is the current workforce crisis in the early years sector. Continuing underfunding has led to low wages and high staff turnover, with many qualified early years practitioners leaving the profession.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the school leaders’ union NAHT, and Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), both cautioned that while the plan to expand school-based nurseries is promising, it requires careful planning to avoid exacerbating existing workforce shortages.

Labour is well aware of this challenge and has committed to increasing pay and improving working conditions for childcare professionals.

These steps are crucial to attracting and retaining qualified staff, particularly as the sector expands to meet the growing demand for places.

The party’s vision for childcare is underpinned by a commitment to raising the status of early years professionals, recognising their vital role in both the economy and children’s development.

A Bold Step Towards Childcare Reform

The Labour Party’s 2024 childcare proposals represent a bold attempt to reshape the UK’s early years education system.

By expanding access to free, high-quality childcare from nine months onwards, building new school-based nurseries, and addressing the workforce crisis, Labour seeks to ease the financial burden on families, improve educational outcomes, and support gender equality in the workplace.

As the party approaches the next general election, childcare reform will be a key pillar of its campaign. Labour is positioning itself as the party that will deliver opportunity for all children, beginning with the youngest.

However, the success of these proposals will depend on careful planning, sustained investment, and the ability to overcome the significant challenges facing the early years sector.

If Labour succeeds in implementing its vision, it could transform the landscape of childcare in the UK, benefiting families and children for generations to come.

Kathy
Leatherbarrow
Early Years Consultant
Kathy Leatherbarrow is an experienced early years consultant with over 25 years in the field. She excels in improving childcare quality, mentoring staff, and exceeding Ofsted standards. Kathy is committed to providing every child with the best start in life.