Alliance reacts to allocation of first phase of school-based nursery funding

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

"While the government is absolutely right to look at how to improve the availability and accessibility of early years provision, particularly in so-called 'childcare deserts', the fact is that boosting nursery places in primary schools alone simply won't be enough to meet ever-increasing demand.

“With more than three-quarters of entitlement places currently delivered by private and voluntary nurseries, pre-schools and childminders, it's clear that this vital part of the early years sector should be central to any plans to drive up capacity - especially given we're just months away from the final phase of the entitlement expansion and many schools simply do not have the resources, or staff with the necessary skills and experience, to deliver high-quality education and care to under-threes.

"Why, then, is the government continuing to drag its feet on ensuring that PVI providers are both adequately funded and supported to tackle the longstanding staffing crisis?

“Ultimately, if the government is truly serious about breaking down barriers to opportunity, it must come to the realisation that increasing school-based provision can only ever be one piece of a much larger puzzle. Failing to recognise this will simply mean more families will lose out."