Childcare providers should do more to tackle child poverty, says commission

The Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission said government alone cannot solve child poverty, and wants other parts of the children and young people’s sector to do more to tackle the problem.

The commission highlights the need for early years providers to forge closer links with schools to ensure young children are school-ready by the time they start formal education, and for local authorities to help broker the relationships.

Its report, How the Key Players Outside Central Government Can Tackle Child Poverty and Promote Social Mobility, praises the free childcare entitlement for deprived two-year-olds and all three- and four-year-olds but says there are still too many areas of the country where good quality early years provision is in short supply.

To help reduce the 18-month attainment gap between some five-year-olds from deprived and wealthier backgrounds, the commission says childcare providers should work with schools to agree what level of ability and skills children should be expected to have learned by the time they enter reception.

It suggests this could include children being able to talk in sentences, sit still and listen, understand what the word "no" means and know the boundaries set for behaviour.

To get the most out of the free childcare programme, the commission recommends that qualified teachers should lead early years classes that contain the most deprived children.

It also suggests early years providers should engage with parents to develop a better understanding of the needs of each family, and could play a part in helping government establish a national parenting programme so people can improve their parenting skills.

As well as helping childcare providers and schools to form better links, the commission said local authorities must continue to play a part in improving school performance, such sharing best practice.

In addition, it said a number of councils “fall short” in their duty to track all young people up to the age of 18 to ensure they are engaged in education or training.

By 2020, all young people should be tracked by councils, which is said “will enable better targeting of schemes to re-engage those who do not continue in study, or in work with training, after the age of 16”.