Early years expansion can’t succeed without more staff

Commenting on the urgent question in the House of Commons (22 January 2024) on the rollout of the two-year-old entitlement offer in England, Helen Osgood, Community Union’s Operations Director and National Officer for Education & Early Years, said:

“The rollout can only succeed if early years providers have the staff and the funding they need to provide the places.

“There is currently both a staff recruitment and retention crisis, and a funding crisis in the early years sector.

“The government’s announcement on funding for increasing places hasn’t been accompanied by a commitment to investing in the workforce in terms of training, or in addressing  the low wages which are a barrier to attracting new workers to the sector.

“With just over two months until the scheme is due to start, many nurseries, pre-schools and childminders still don’t know what funding they will receive from April, making it impossible to plan or make commitments.

“Given that current levels of government funding for the ‘free’ childcare entitlement do not cover the costs of provision, the planned expansion of the scheme will send even more valued settings over the edge as they are unable to afford to operate.

“The Government must act now, or the rollout will fail before it gets going.”

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If you are a member of Community and need advice or support, please contact our Service Centre at help@community-tu.org or on 0800 389 6332.