Nursery World - We need a system that is clear and inclusive

New shadow children and families minister Alison McGovern sets out Labour's policy priorities

It's an exciting moment to be taking over the reins as Labour's shadow children and families minister. We are about to see a general election campaign where childcare is at its heart like never before. As costs of childcare for parents have soared over past years, it has become increasingly clear that we can never build an economy that works
or everyone without taking radical steps to tackle affordability and availability. High costs make it harder for parents to return to work, drain family finances and feed into child poverty.

That's why Labour will be making a clear offer to dads and mums and parents-to-be at this election: an expansion of free childcare for threeand four-year-olds to 25 hours per week for working parents, alongside guaranteeing wrap-around care for school-age children. This will help to ensure that all parents have the choice of when and how to go back to work, a choice I was lucky enough to have but which should be universal. We want to create a childcare system that is affordable, flexible and - crucially - understandable for parents.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included