The Duke of Westminster’s charitable foundation is providing £750,000 over five years to the London Early Years Foundation to expand access to early education places to some of the poorest children in the capital.
The funding will be used to extend the universal 15 hours to 30 hours for vulnerable and disadvantaged three- and four-year olds, who would not otherwise be entitled to it.
LEYF is calling on the new minister for children, families and wellbeing, Claire Coutinho, to provide urgent funding to increase access to the 30-hour offer to children whose parents do not earn enough to qualify for the extra funded hours.
Currently parents need to work a minimum of 16 hours a week on average, at the national minimum wage or national living wage rates or above, in order to qualify for 30-hour childcare.
