Commenting on the report from EPI and the National Day Nurseries
Association showing that four in ten early years settings across
England, Wales and Scotland were forced to close during the
spring as a result of Covid isolation, Tiffnie Harris, Primary
Specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders,
said:
“This report throws a spotlight on the financial fragility of a
neglected area of education that is crucial to children’s
outcomes and which has suffered badly during the pandemic. The
truth is that it wouldn’t have needed much to throw many early
years settings into crisis as government has overlooked the
sector and funding for the early years entitlement is wholly
inadequate.
“The immediate impact of the havoc the pandemic has wrought will
be felt in September when substantial numbers of young children
join reception classes having missed out on the grounding and
behaviours that early years education provides.
“This again emphasises the need for a substantial and better
funded education recovery plan from the government which
recognises that children and young people of all ages have
suffered during the pandemic, rather than the inadequate solution
it has so far produced.
“In the longer term, this sector desperately needs more focus
from government in terms of investment and strategy because of
the crucial role it can play in closing the attainment gap
between disadvantaged children and their peers.”
