Alliance comments on Ofsted's annual report

Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said:

“Ofsted is absolutely right to recognise the impact of staffing challenges on the sector and to identify access to provision for children from disadvantaged and vulnerable backgrounds as a key priority. 

“There is a wealth of research showing just how it important it is to ensure that those from disadvantaged backgrounds have the opportunity to reap the benefits of a high-quality early education – and yet, in reality they are the most likely to find it difficult, if not impossible, to do so. And, as Ofsted rightly highlights, the sector's ongoing recruitment and retention crisis has only made it harder for settings not only to meet demand but also ensure that every child benefits from consistent contact with a key person in their nursery, pre-school or childminding setting.  

“So, as the government announces its commitment to the early years, we hope that this translates into increased funding and support to tackle these longstanding challenges, and we look forward to continuing to work with them to make this a reality. Without this, those set to gain the most from early education will continue to lose out.”