Commenting on Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson's speech to
the Labour Party Conference, where she announced that new
school-based nurseries will start opening next year, Pepe
Di'Iasio, General Secretary of the Association of School and
College Leaders, said:
“We welcome the Education Secretary's focus on early years
education as this is so important for improving the life chances
of children. Her plan to start opening new nurseries in primary
schools from next year is a clever way of addressing two
problems. The first of these is the huge difficulty the
government faces in delivering a commitment to extending free
childcare in an early years sector which does not have enough
funding, staff or places. The second is the challenge faced by
many primary schools where the number of pupils is in decline,
and they are left with empty classrooms and reduced funding.
“However, opening new school-based nurseries won't fully solve
either issue and action will be needed to improve funding rates
in early years and primary education if we are to provide the
level of support required to close the disadvantage gap in
educational outcomes which begins early in children's lives. The
government will need to be much more ambitious for our public
services and we hope to hear this reflected in its forthcoming
Budget.”
