Early Years Alliance comments on new DfE floor space requirements consultation

Comment from the Early Years Alliance following the Department for Education's announcement of a consultation on Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) floor space requirements.

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

“While we recognise that some settings may welcome the additional flexibility that would be created by this change, we remain concerned about the impact that such a policy could have on the quality of provision – and in particular, the risk that these reforms could result in overcrowding in some settings if the implementation, assuming these proposals go ahead, is not properly monitored.

“We're clear that ensuring the safety and wellbeing of young children must always be at the heart of early years education and care. And yet, as we get closer to the final stage of the entitlement expansion, it appears that the need to create new places is constantly being prioritised over and above the need to ensure the consistent delivery of high-quality early years provision.

“Rather than an endless stream of ad hoc, short-term policies, we need a clear and comprehensive early years strategy that puts quality, and what's best for the child, at its centre. We're clear that if the government wants to increase capacity in the early years in the long term – in a way that doesn't put quality at risk – then tackling the ongoing recruitment and retention crisis, and ensuring that we have enough experienced, quality staff in settings, is where policymakers should be focusing. This means committing to provide the funding the sector needs to ensure staff are paid a fair wage, both now and in the future.”