Early Years Alliance comments on EPI annual report 2025

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

"Over recent years, ministers from across the political spectrum have spoken at great length about the importance of closing the gap, improving children's life chances and, most recently, breaking down barriers to opportunity. It is incredibly disappointing, therefore, to see that the attainment gap between disadvantaged children and their peers is continuing to widen.

"We know that access to quality early education is critical to ensuring that all children – and that without question includes children with special educational needs or disabilities – get the best possible start in life. And yet, the fact is that chronic underfunding and a worsening staffing crisis – alongside government policies that prioritise capacity building over quality, such as the relaxation of ratios  – have made this an uphill challenge.

"As such, while we welcome the government's renewed focus on the quality of provision, as outlined in the Best Start for Life strategy, as these findings make clear, the scale of the challenges we are facing cannot be underestimated. It is critical, therefore, that early years providers are given the support they need to deliver the quality care and education that we know makes such a difference to young children's lives."