Call for focus on quality as free childcare expansion looms

All three of the main political parties have pledged to boost provision of free childcare if they form the next government, but the British Association for Early Childhood Education has warned that increasing provision could impact on quality.

An open letter from the president and vice president of the association calls for the next government to focus on upskilling the early years workforce to create a “graduate-led profession that is able to give children the best possible start in life”.

Beatrice Merrick, chief executive of the association, said: “Politicians of all parties clearly think offering more hours of free childcare will appeal to parents, but they need to look rigorously at the evidence of whether that is good use of scarce public funds.  

“One clear lesson from every previous expansion of early years provision is that quality does not keep up with quantity when the sector is pressured to grow too fast.”

Childcare has been high on the agenda for all three of the main political parties.

The Conservatives have said that free childcare entitlement for all three- and four-year-olds will rise from 15 to 30 hours where all parents are working.

Meanwhile Labour wants to expand free childcare from 15 to 25 hours a week for working parents of three- and four-year-olds.

And the Liberal Democrats have outlined an ambition of 20 hours free childcare a week for all two- to four-year-olds, and for all working parents from the end of paid parental leave (nine months) to two years.

Tony Bertram, president of the association said: “This election has seen promises to increase the number of hours of childcare for working families, and much less discussion about the quality of early education, especially for the most disadvantaged children. 

“Every child has the right to the best possible start in life, including high-quality care and education delivered by a well-qualified workforce. 

“This may cost a little more, but all the evidence shows that it is an investment not a cost, with beneficial impacts on the educational achievement and wellbeing of our poorest children.”

According to Department for Education figures for 2013 only 59 per cent of private nurseries have at least one member of staff qualified to level 6 compared to 87 per cent of daycare provision in children’s centres, 100 per cent of maintained nursery schools and more than 98 per cent of nursery and reception classes in primary schools.