I want to end the dilemma of choosing between career and childcare

It’s a decision countless parents – often women – have had to make for years: to have a family or continue a career.

Throughout my three decades in business, I’ve seen countless brilliant careers left behind so that parents can raise their children in the only way they can afford to: at home.

This year, we are changing that.

I want 2024 to be the year that parents get their choice back. The choice to do what is right and best for them and their children.

And we want to support parents with their choice. That’s why we’re rewarding hard work by cutting taxes and bolstering childcare support, so that parents have more in their pocket at the end of the month.

In the last spring Budget, we committed to the largest ever investment, and biggest ever expansion, in childcare in England’s history, taking spending to over £8bn a year by 2027-28.

Yesterday, that expansion became law – an important step so we can deliver this transformative childcare offer.

Today, sign-up opens for working parents to start applying for the first stage of the new offer – 15 hours of free childcare for two-year-olds. Hundreds of thousands of parents will be eligible, and those who are interested should register between today and the end of February, to take up places from April.

I know some parents may worry that by going back to work earlier in their children’s lives, they might in some way be letting their children down.

This must always be a completely personal choice for every individual family, but rest assured, there’s a lot of evidence that highlights the positive effect time in nursery education can have on children’s early development.

Many parents won’t need telling how brilliant our early-years providers are, but it’s wonderful to see that 96 per cent of childcare provision in England is rated good or outstanding. That’s up from less than three-quarters in 2010, and it’s worth adding that Ofsted has noted how well the early-years equivalent to the curriculum prepares children for school and later learning.

I know the delivery of this transformation is no easy task, which is why I am pushing ahead with increased funding rates across the country and up to £1,200 for new childminders, knocking down barriers to recruiting and retaining the talented staff who provide such wonderful care for children.

It sounds obvious, but nurseries, childminders and the fabulous staff working in the sector create nurturing and joy-filled environments. I’d urge anyone with questions to arrange to go and visit their local provider and see for themselves what it might be like.

Regardless of whether childcare is right for you, nothing will ever change how central every parent is to their child’s development. That’s why, in the next few weeks, the government will also be launching the “Little Moments Together” home-learning campaign.

Part of our Start for Life programme, Little Moments Together will offer parents handy hints, tips and resources for fun and engaging activities that can easily fit into busy daily routines to support their children’s development in their earliest years.

Importantly, our expansion this April is just the start. From September this year, the new offer will be available to eligible working parents of children from nine months old up until they start school, and by September 2025, that will rise to 30 hours every week.

This expansion will remove some of the barriers to work for around 400,000 parents with a child under three in England, and will save a working parent using the full 30 hours a week up to £6,500 every year.

This is the biggest expansion of free childcare in this country’s history, and I can’t wait to see the transformative impact it has on the lives of working families.

Parents who are interested just need to visit childcarechoices.gov.uk to learn more about how to apply.

Gillian Keegan is secretary of state for education