2.29 Many adults face extra costs associated with learning. The most significant cost for many of them - particularly women - wishing to return to the labour market and improve their skills is paying for childcare. We want to support parents in taking up education, training or work by ensuring that a range of good quality affordable provision is available in every neighbourhood. This is a major challenge.

2.30 We will publish in the first half of this year our proposals for a national childcare strategy, inviting views on its implementation. This will include consideration of how some of the £300 million package over five years announced in the Chancellor’s Pre-Budget Report can be used by colleges or universities to offer quality childcare to support those in learning. Individual learning accounts will also be available to help pay for the cost of childcare.