
One month on from the spring budget statement
On 15th March 2023, Jeremy Hunt MP announced in his Spring Budget a pledge to invest £289 million over two years from September 2024, to enable Local Authorities to encourage the development and extension of school based wraparound childcare from 8am to 6pm. This policy commitment is one that seeks to address availability rather than affordability of school aged childcare in England. An aligned move to remove the Universal Credit claim cap and uplift the amount paid by the Childcare element of Universal Credit is seen as sufficient measures to support the affordability challenge for families. At the Out of School Alliance, we reacted quickly issuing a press release which was picked up in a number of media outlets. Rebekah Jackson Reece, Managing Director of OOSA, met with Department for Education for comment and consultation within 48 hours of the announcement being made by HM Treasury. As a result of a




