Labour’s childcare plans to tackle the cost-of-living crisis by helping 135,000 mums back to work or work more hours

· New analysis shows that Labour’s plans to extend free childcare provision could help 135,000 more mums get back to work or work extra hours.

· Labour’s plans will extend free childcare for working parents – a policy which will benefit nearly half a million three and four year olds and their families. Today’s new figures show that many of these will be mums helped back into work.

· Labour will also give a legal guarantee to parents with primary-aged children that they can access before and after-school childcare through their school.

Lucy Powell MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Childcare and Children, said:

“Childcare is a big part of David Cameron’s cost-of-living crisis. Families have been hit hard by the soaring cost of childcare which is up 30 per cent since 2010 – five times faster than wages.

"At the same time, there are fewer childcare places available and families have seen the support they relied on to help make childcare affordable has been reduced.

"Hardworking families will be better off with Labour. We understand that increased help with childcare is good for the economy and for families.

"Our plans to extend free childcare from 15 to 25 hours for working parents with three and four-year-olds will make a real difference and help thousands of mums shut out of the labour market or prevented from working the hours they want by high childcare costs.

"Worth £1,500 per child and paid for by an increase in the bank levy, Labour’s plans will help tackle the cost of living crisis and make work pay.”

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