UK Government allocates over £2 billion to secure expansion in early education

The UK Government has allocated over £2 billion (nearly AUD$4 billion) of extra investment to support the rollout of 30 hours of government-funded early education from next September.

The additional investment forms part of the government’s mission to break the unfair link between background and opportunity, increasing access to affordable and high-quality early education so tens of thousands more children will be ‘school ready’ by five years of age. 

The Prime Minister recently unveiled the government’s Plan for Change, including an ambition for a record number of children – 75 per cent – to be reaching a good level of development when they start school by 2028.

A reformed and sustainable early education system is central to this mission, which is why despite having to take tough decisions to fix the foundations of the economy the government is increasing investment by over 30 per cent compared to last year – bringing total spend to £8 billion (nearly AUD$ 16 billion) – as it delivers on the promises to expand government-funded early education for working parents.

“High quality early education is the cornerstone of our promise to ensure tens of thousands of children are school ready every year, as part of the government’s Plan for Change,” Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson said.

“This government will invest in our children’s future to break the link between background and success and build a system that gives every child the best start in life.”

“The early years have been my priority from day one, because by giving more children the chance to start school ready to go, we transform their life chances, and the life chances of every child in their classroom.”

The £2 billion uplift reflects the government’s latest modelling for the final 2025-26 entitlement funding rates, the uplift to the Early Years Pupil Premium and £75 million expansion grant. This updated spend figure is in line with existing projections of the 70,000 new places required to meet demand for next September.

Learn more here.