NEU comments on IFS report on early years

Commenting on a new IFS report on government spending on early years and childcare, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:    

"The findings from the IFS report published today will sadly come as no surprise to early years professionals and our members in Maintained Nursery Schools (MNS).   

"Recent funding announcements were welcomed, but it was widely acknowledged at the time that these were too little too late and would not make up for long term underfunding in the sector nor the impact of the pandemic.  Existing financial pressures are now significantly worse due to rising costs.  As this report clearly outlines, real term funding levels will fall by 8% by 2024.  The only way MNS and other providers in the sector will be able to manage is to make further cuts.  However, our members are telling us that this is no longer an option as they have already made cuts to services and staff to stay open.  There is nothing left to cut.  Unless the government intervenes and announces more financial support for the sector in next week’s budget, it is our belief that further closures are inevitable.   

"The government acknowledges that good quality early years education vastly improves future educational attainment and the life chances of those pupils and can significantly improve social mobility.  The NEU calls on the government to act.  The sector is crying out for more funding and support, including fully-funded pay rises which at least keep pace with inflation.  We need a fully-funded early years sector that provides every child access to good quality early years education. If the government fails to act appropriately, it will irrevocably harm the educational outcomes and life chances of millions of children across the country."