It comes just weeks after Children and families minister Will Quince said that the Department for Education (DfE) is going to carry out a review into the regulation of early years settings, visiting countries including France and the Netherlands to see how they ‘do things differently.’
Speaking to Cabinet today, Boris Johnson said, ‘whilst our recovery from the global pandemic was faster than anybody previously expected, continued disruptions in the global economy, including in China where widespread lockdowns are still taking place – coupled with Putin’s continued crazed malevolence in Ukraine - meant the public was facing real pressures and that the Government would continue to be on their side.’
He said there was more to do, including in areas like childcare, to further ease pressures for those that need it most and to get even more people into high skilled, high-wage jobs.
When Nursery World approached the Prime Minister's Office for more information on ways which Mr Johnson will consider to reduce childcare costs, they were unable to provide more details.
Ministers agreed that these 'global pressures' were the single biggest issue of importance to the public and outlined work taking place in their departments to help the public and businesses.
The Prime Minister’s office confirmed that Mr Johnson will personally chair meetings of the Cabinet’s Domestic and Economic Strategy Committee to finalise measures that might help people with the cost of living.
Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Munira Wilson warned that the Prime Minister's new plan was 'not to address the issues head on', but to 'cut corners and endanger children.'
She said, 'The eye-watering increase in childcare costs is hurting cash-strapped families, who are already feeling the pinch due to soaring energy bills and the cost of living crisis.
'Boris Johnson's new plan is not to address this issue head on, but instead to cut corners and endanger our children. Their safety should be our number one priority, not be reduced to a cost-cutting measure.
'The Government must address the crippling costs of childcare so families get the support they need and can afford to return to work.'