Today (18/04/24), The Rt Hon Gillian Keegan MP, the Secretary of State for Education, visited a nursery in Camborne/Redruth with MP Candidate Connor Donnithorne.
During the visit, Connor and the Secretary of State discussed the recent announcement that working parents of 2-year-olds are now able to access 15 hours a week of government-funded childcare from 1 April.
The rollout of support is part of the government’s plan to help families – freeing thousands of couples from having to choose between having a family and a career, as over 150,000 children are on track to secure government-funded places from this week.
By September 2025 the full rollout will be completed, with working parents able to access 30 hours from the end of maternity leave to when their child starts school, saving parents an average of £6,900 per year.
Connor Donnithorne, MP Candidate for Camborne and Redruth said,
“It was brilliant to welcome Gillian Keegan, Secretary of State for Education, to Camborne, Redruth, and Hayle today to see nursery provision in the constituency and to discuss how the government is supporting hardworking local families with the cost of living by bringing down the cost of childcare._
“As a 27 year-old, parent, and small business owner, I know how important these reforms are to families just like mine and I am confident they will help small businesses grow, creating more jobs locally._
“By extending the funding to give 15 hours of free childcare for parents with 2-year-olds, the government is giving peace of mind to parents across Camborne and Redruth and the confidence that their children will have the best possible start in life.”
Gillian Keegan, the Secretary of State for Education, added,
“ We've just started the largest expansion of childcare in our whole country's history. As a minister, you want to come to areas like this where it is a bit more rural and there are more challenges with getting skilled workers. Although Mandy has created an amazing business here.
"Connor suggested I visited as not only is he the local candidate but his son's not long started here. Once this whole programme is fully rolled out it will save families £6,900 a year."