Low income families will be able access greater childcare support, as the government has announced £900 million of spending to rollout more extensive provision.

From June 28, parents on universal credit will be able to claim more back monthly for their childcare costs.

Childcare is set to be a key political battleground in the runup to the next election and minister for children, families and wellbeing Claire Coutinho will be visiting Oxfordshire tomorrow to speak about the government’s plans for helping parents with childcare.

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The new support from June is part of a package of measures which includes 15 free hours available for eligible working parents of two-year-olds from April 2024 and 15 free hours for children aged nine months to the start of school from September 2024.

These hours will eventually rise to 30 from September 2025.

Ms Coutinho said: “We are supporting families with the largest ever expansion of free childcare, making sure that places will be available for parents who need them.

“This will save a working parent using 30 hours a week an average of £6,500.”

Eligible parents will be able to claim back up to £951 for one child and £1,630 for two or more children.

Childcare costs in the UK are some of the highest in the world and the government’s plans include investing £3.5 billion over five years to boost workforce participation.