Petition · past parliament · Department for Education

Fund free childcare for all pre-school pupils

Closed 39 signatures

What the petition asks

The Government should fund free childcare and education for all pre-school age pupils.
Studies of the effects of pre-school attendance on the cognitive development of children under five proves that children who attend childcare facilities are more academically and socially advanced when starting primary school. There is currently a vast inequality in the cognitive development of children in the UK and educational interventions after children have already entered school are too late. If the government wishes to reduce social inequality, then it must reduce educational inequality.

Timeline

25 Jan 2021 Petition opened for signatures
25 Jul 2021 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 39
Status Closed
Department Department for Education
Opened 25 Jan 2021
Closed 25 Jul 2021

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.