The Government’s five-year strategy takes as its goal “giving every child the best possible start in life, and all vulnerable children the care and protection they need”.
Sure Start’s children’s centres will offer support and advice to families.
From birth to two, there will be more opportunities for parents to stay at home and there will be a range of means-tested early learning and childcare provision for those who want it.
All three and four-year-olds will receive 12.5 hours a week of free ‘educare’ - integrated education and childcare, for a minimum of 33 weeks a year.
From age five, “wrap-around” childcare will be available both before and after school, and during school holidays, combined with enrichment activities such as sport.
