Support to the DfE Early Years Childcare Portfolio

Consultancy support to the DfE Early Years Childcare Portfolio to meet demands of the Early Years New Entitlement Programme. Requirement includes: Working at both portfolio and programme level, develop initial versions of the planning, RAID, benefits, stakeholder mapping and resourcing templates. Deliver initial governance for the portfolio and programmes. Deliver localised training/ upskilling to members of the PMO to build internal capacity to deliver the PMO functions. Develop a delivery plan for the sufficiency work that captures the planned interventions at both national and local level with an estimation on the impacts they will have on sufficiency and the timeline to delivering the impact. Provide ongoing PMO management support - including full handover. Overview of the Programme: In the government's spring budget, the Chancellor announced transformative reforms to childcare for parents, children, the economy and women. By 2027 to 2028, this government will expect to be spending in excess of £8bn every year on free hours and early education, helping working families with their childcare costs. This represents the single biggest investment in childcare in England ever. This new offer will empower parents, allowing them to progress their careers and support their families. The new entitlements will be introduced in phases: from April 2024, all working parents of 2-year-olds can access 15 hours per week from September 2024, all working parents of children aged 9 months up to 3-years-old can access 15 hours per week from September 2025, all working parents of children aged 9 months up to 3-years-old can access 30 hours free childcare per week