In the government’s 2023 spring budget, the Chancellor announced new plans for the education sector.

These budget plans include new funding to support with childcare, continued focus on maths and technical education, new higher education loan schemes and much more. 

Read on to find out more about the latest education budget updates and how these plans impact your marketing:

• Schools and local authorities are set to receive funding over the next few academic years to increase the supply of wraparound care. Parents of school age children will be able to drop their children off at school between 8am and 6pm. This initiative will also support vulnerable children with breakfast clubs and after-school activities. 

Top Tip: If you can support schools with wraparound care e.g. by providing catering services for breakfast clubs or running after school activities – get in touch! We’d love to help you promote your services and support 1,000s of pupils and parents.

• By September 2025, the government plans to provide 30 hours of free childcare for every child aged over 9 months (this scheme is currently only for 3 – 4 year olds). This new support will be introduced gradually over the next few years.

• The government will invest £204 million in 2023-24 to the existing free childcare scheme. This funding will increase to £288 million in 2024-25 to further support childcare providers.

• A new ‘Returnerships’ apprenticeship will be introduced aimed at people aged over 50. Plus, a Lifelong Loan Entitlement will be introduced by 2025, a higher education loan scheme that will provide learners with the equivalent of 4 years of post-18 education (£37,000 in current fees) that they can use over their lifetime. These schemes are backed by £63 million of funding, and will equip people with the skills and support necessary for returning to work.

• The government’s Levelling Up programme will invest over £200 million into regenerating areas of need. This programme is part of a wider mission to provide more opportunities for everyone in the UK, including in education. One of the planned regeneration projects involves a skills and education campus in Blackburn.

Top Tip: Watch this space if you provide products or services for education establishments in the North-West! And keep an eye out for other education related levelling up projects. 

• Numeracy will continue to be a core objective of the education system for pupils up to the age of 18. And plans are in place to continue investing in technical education and incentivising businesses and individuals to deliver T Levels, approve Higher Technical Qualifications and run Skills Bootcamps.

• The government has allocated £40 million for widening participation in further and higher education in Northern Ireland.

• Over the next 2 years, the government will invest an additional £3 million into piloting an expansion of the Supported Internships programme to help more young people secure employment. This programme will be expanded to young people who are entitled to special educational needs support and who do not have an Education Health and Care plan.

Information source: Spring Budget 2023, www.gov.uk.