Government Expands Childcare and Holiday Support for Families

The Government has announced a major expansion of childcare support, set to save working parents up to £7,500 per year.

From September, families with children aged 9 months up to reception will be eligible for 30 hours of government-funded childcare. Ministers are urging parents to apply quickly to secure their places before the new school term begins.

Alongside this, the Government has confirmed a further £600 million investment to extend the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme for three years. This will provide enriching activities and free meals to children from lower-income families during school holidays – a scheme that has already supported more than half a million children in the last year.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the measures will help children be “school-ready”, reduce cost of living pressures on families, and support parents to return to work.

National Director of Feeding Britain, Andrew Forsey OBE, welcomed the extension of HAF, saying it lifts “a weight off parents’ shoulders.”

You can read the full announcement from the Department for Education here.

Rural Access to Childcare and Holiday Provision

While these measures represent significant financial support for families, rural access remains a critical challenge.

Rural England CIC’s recently published State of Rural Services 2025 report highlights that:

• Childcare provision in rural areas is often scarcer and more dispersed, with fewer providers per 100 children under 5 than in urban areas.
• Accessibility varies significantly: families in villages and hamlets frequently face longer travel times, compounded by limited public transport.
• Quality provision is uneven, with fewer Ofsted-rated “Good” or “Outstanding” childcare places in some rural localities.

Similarly, while the HAF programme is welcomed, delivery is more challenging in rural settings. Families without reliable transport or with limited digital connectivity may struggle to access activities or information on provision.

Kerry Booth, Chief Executive, Rural Services Network: "Everybody deserves access to essential services and support, no matter where they live. As set out in RSN’s Delivering for All roadmap, this means policy cannot take a “one-size-fits-all” approach but must account for the distinct realities of rural life. Without tailored investment and delivery, there is a real risk that families in more remote areas will miss out on the full benefits of these national offers".

We will be covering these key themes at the upcoming National Rural Conference 2025 (15–18 September) – including Rural Fair Funding, Rural Economy & Regeneration, Rural Connectivity, and Rural Transport. Book your place and find out more here.