Oral evidenceSelect & Joint CommitteesTuesday, 30 June 202609:30

Education Committee: Early Years: Improving Support for Children and Families

Committee hears from witnesses

The Education Committee is conducting oral evidence sessions on early years support—childcare, nurseries, and family services for young children and their parents. The inquiry examines how well the current system meets families' needs, what gaps exist, and how support could be improved. This matters because early years provision affects parents' ability to work, child development outcomes, and family financial security.

Early years services are critical infrastructure for working families. They enable parental employment, particularly for mothers, and shape children's cognitive and social development. With childcare costs among the highest in Europe and many families reporting unaffordable or unavailable provision, this inquiry will influence future policy on subsidies, quality standards, and accessibility—affecting millions of families and the broader labour market.

Education Social Care Cost of Living

Committee mentioned:Education Committee