Thousands of toddlers from the poorest families in London’s deprived East End are to get 15 hours of free childcare a week or places in nursery.
New welfare regulations brought in by the government today mean 2,800 youngsters aged two are now eligible in Tower Hamlets alone, it has been calculated.
They are among 130,000 children from poor backgrounds up and down the country who are to benefit from a £600 million Whitehall package of measures. This includes £500m in childcare this year and a further £100m through local authorities.
East London Lib Dem MEP Sarah Ludford said: “This is a welcome announcement for families in Tower Hamlets. Early education helps promote a child’s physical, emotional and social development.”
The cash deal is being boosted next year to £760m to help an additional 130,000 two-year-olds in Britain from families with less than £16,190 annual income who receive working credits.
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