More than 55,000 children across the South West have taken up government-funded childcare places since the start of the new term, with ministers hailing the rollout as a key step in easing the cost-of-living burden for working families.

According to figures released this week, 55,784 children in the region are now enrolled in the government's 30-hour childcare programme, part of a nationwide initiative that has seen 530,000 children benefit in under a month.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “When we launched the 30 hours childcare expansion at the start of September, we said around half a million families were on track to benefit. Today’s figures show we have gone even further.”

She added: “It is fantastic to see our Plan for Change delivering for families – helping them sa

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