The Government has published a response to the childcare funding petition, which has over 12,000 signatures.
The petition, which was started in November and has more than 10,000 signatures – triggering a Government response - calls for early years funding to be increased to ensure settings can continue to operate.
Within its response, the Department for Education (DfE) acknowledges that the sector is ‘facing economic challenges’, however stresses that additional funding of £160 million in 2022-23, £180 million in 2023-24 and £170 million in 2024-25 has already been announced. The childcare funding was announced by the Department for Education in December, the month after the petition was started.
When a petition on the GOV.UK website receives 10,000 signatures, the Government must provide a response. At 100,000 signatures, the petition is considered for debate in Parliament.
