NEWS

The Early Education and Childcare Coalition (EECC) has published polling by More in Common highlighting a lack of confidence among young families in the main political parties’ election manifestos.

The polling reveals that 64% of parents do not think that political parties are doing enough to support families with children under the age of five.

The availability of early education and childcare places remains a major concern ahead of the expansion of the 30-hour offer: 60% of parents think the main parties are not doing enough to increase the availability of places, while a further 64% of parents don’t feel enough is being promised to bring down the cost of early years provision.

The polling also showed that:

• just 37% of families were confident that early education and childcare would improve after the election

• 64% said parties are not promising enough for families with children under five

• voters think the best way to improve early education and childcare in England is to ensure providers receive the right level of funding

Commenting on the findings, Sarah Ronan, director of the Early Education and Childcare Coalition, said: “The new government will take office amid the biggest expansion of childcare support in history and just two months out from the next phase of the roll-out.

“As our polling shows, families are not yet convinced that political parties have grasped the scale of the challenge for the early years sector or the pressure facing parents. Those running for government need to show they understand that, and more importantly, that they are willing to take action to address the root causes of the crisis in early years.

“That action must include more support for the sector and the early years workforce so they can meet demand and deliver for babies, toddlers and their parents.”

Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said: “The research from the Early Education and Childcare Coalition reiterates just how vital it is for
the next government to put the early years front and centre of their policy priorities.

“Whichever party is in government on Friday, there is no denying the fact that they start their tenure at a critical time for the early years, with providers facing significant underfunding and staffing key challenges and the sector less than two months
away from the next phase of the early entitlement expansion.

“There is no doubt, therefore, that substantially increased funding – both now and in the long term – and a comprehensive workforce strategy are key if the next government is to have any chance of ensuring that all families, regardless of their background or location, can benefit from affordable, high-quality early education and care.”

The Education Policy Institute (EPI) has highlighted a number of key issues facing the early years sector that the next government must tackle, in a new report.

The report – produced with Nuffield Education and published ahead of the recent election – states that the key concerns affecting the sector include what the report describes as a “complex and insufficient” funding system, where ongoing financial pressures risk “squeezing out disadvantaged children from early childhood education and care”.

The report notes that, due to these challenges, the benefits of early education and care are not being realised, particularly for the most disadvantaged in society.
Further EPI recommendations regarding the early years sector include to:

• simplify early years funding

• weight early years funding much more heavily towards children from low-income families and children with SEND by increasing the early years pupil premium to be commensurate with the pupil premium in later school years, increasing the disability access fund (DAF) to reflect the costs of quality education and care for children with disabilities, and simplifying access to the DAF. The EPI argues that entitlement to the DAF should not be restricted (as it is presently) to only children in receipt of disability living allowance (DLA), as not all children with disabilities in the
  early years are in receipt of DLA.

• strengthen the family hub model or return to the original Sure Start model to ensure a family- focused and integrated system of care, education and wider holistic support for young children and their parents/carers.

• publish an early years strategy setting out plans to: improve accessibility for disadvantaged children in particular; create a sustainable model for providers while also affordable for families; and provide a clear strategy for ensuring a high-quality workforce.

Commenting, Natalie Perera, chief executive of the Education Policy Institute (EPI), said: “An evidence- based education reform and investment strategy must be a top priority for any incoming government. The gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers continues to widen, whilst schools and colleges across the country face a shortage
of teachers and increasing funding pressures.

“There remains a genuine risk that the most important challenges facing education will not be addressed with sufficient urgency, given the wider economic issues and demands on public services that an incoming government will face.”

Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said: “The EPI report is absolutely right to highlight the lack of manifesto commitments to addressing the disadvantage gap that exists within early education and childcare.

“We all know that early education not only has a significant impact on a child’s development, and in turn their chances in later life, but that children from disadvantaged backgrounds have the most to gain from this.

“No family should be prevented from benefitting from early education and support just because of the circumstances they are facing.”

The national charity’s research finds that six in 10 local authorities are either not confident or unsure if there will be sufficient places for September’s phase of the expansion, with just 11% confident there will be sufficient places for the final phase in September 2025.

The research also shows that 75% report that their biggest concern in delivery of the remainder of the early education and childcare expansion is the local workforce.

The research coincides with the release of Coram’s manifesto, which contains a number of recommendations that the charity feels would aid the sector, including the introduction and funding of a workforce strategy, responsive SEND funding, and the simplification of the funding system.

Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said: “Today’s research from Coram paints an extremely concerning picture of the remaining phases of the early entitlement expansion.

“Not only are a significant proportion of local authorities far from confident that they will be able to meet increased demand, but the fact that 75% highlight staffing challenges as their biggest concern should set alarm bells ringing. Let’s be clear, if meaningful action isn’t taken soon to address the significant staffing and capacity challenges facing the sector, families understandably hoping to take advantage of expansion will likely be left disappointed.

“With the election now just a week away, whoever forms the next government must commit to ensuring that England's early years sector is able to sustainably meet demand, not just for the future phases of the expansion but long into the future."