We want the Government to change the Funded Childcare for Working Parents scheme in England so eligible parents can access their childcare hours immediately after maternity, paternity, adoption or shared parental leave ends, rather than waiting until the next school term.

Eligible working parents can receive up to 30 hours of funded childcare per week for children aged from 9 months old, but support only starts from the next school term. This means parents returning to work after a cut-off pay full nursery fees for months despite already being eligible. A parent returning in May will not receive funded childcare until September. Parents do not plan maternity leave around school terms. HMRC should be able to process support from the date parental leave ends