Tulip Siddiq comments on the Sutton Trust’s call for early years to be at the heart of education recovery

Tulip Siddiq MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Children and Early Years, commenting on the Sutton Trust’s call for early years to be at the heart of education recovery, said:

“Children’s recovery after coronavirus has to focus on early education and support. Yet the Government has allowed the early years sector to collapse, with 2,000 providers lost since the start of the year.

“We owe it to the next generation to deliver an ambitious education recovery plan. Instead, the Government is pressing ahead with a stealth cut to pupil premium funding for disadvantaged children and allowing nurseries to close.

“It is time for Conservative Ministers to recognise that early years provision shapes children’s life chances and prioritise this vital infrastructure as we emerge from the pandemic.”

Ends

Notes to Editors

• On Thursday 20th May, the Sutton Trust will set out its priorities for the education recovery plan. Published at the same time as new polling showing over two-thirds of pre-school parents say not being able to play with other children has negatively impacted their child, the Trust will call for early years to be at the heart of education recovery.

• According to new government statistics, there were 74,130 childcare providers in England as of 31^st December 2020. The latest data release shows that there were 72,043 childcare providers as of 31^st March 2021. This amounts to a loss of 2,087 childcare providers since the start of the year.
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