Written Question·Department for Education·UIN 111566

Pre-school Education: Rural Areas

Tabled: 6 February 2026
Answered: 23 February 2026

Question

Dr Roz Savage

Liberal DemocratSouth Cotswolds

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential implications of rural early years provision in sustaining village communities and preventing rural depopulation on her Department's funding policy for early years.

Answer

Olivia Bailey
In 2026/27, the department expects to provide over £9.5 billion for the early years entitlements, more than doubling annual public investment in the early years sector compared to 2023/24, as we have successfully rolled out the expansion of government-fun...

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