Allocate more childcare funding for working parents

70
signatures
closedDepartment for EducationOpened 23 March 2026Closed 23 September 2026

Background

The government makes extra funding available for childcare costs and holiday clubs if: parents are in work and claiming Universal Credit; and if the child is eligible for free school meals respectively. This funding should also be available to working parents who fall outside these criteria.

Additional details

Offering extra funding has multiple benefits: it would allow more parents, carers and guardians to take up full time work without worrying about high childcare costs, care givers are currently working to pay nursery and childcare fees. During the school holidays, they are left finding childcare or forced to take the little annual leave they have left whilst holiday clubs are funded for children on free school meals, whose parents may be on benefits. Open this funding up more widely.

Where it’s popular

Constituencies with the most signatures on this petition.

Source: UK Government & Parliament Petitions service. Petition ID: 760619.