Expansion plans require 85,000 more childcare places by September 2025

Pilot to explore how to repurpose unused school space to increase capacity for funded childcare

An estimated 85,000 additional childcare places would be required by September 2025 to enable the government's planned expansion of funded childcare for working parents in England, according to the Department for Education.

A pilot will explore how to repurpose unused school space to support childcare and increase capacity. If successful, the scheme will be rolled out to expand funded childcare for eligible families of children as young as nine months old.