CYP Now - Disadvantaged children set to miss out on early years expansion, NAO warns

The National Audit Office (NAO) has raised concerns that the government’s extension of early years entitlements for working families will widen the attainment gap between disadvantaged children and their peers.

Disadvantaged children are at risk of being locked out of funded childcare, the NAO warns. Picture: Adobe Stock - Adobe Stock

The warning comes as the government continues to phase in the extension, from this month through to September next year.

In its report into the government’s preparations around the policy, the NAO warns “it remains unclear” on whether it will negatively impact the Department for Education’s “wider priorities relating to quality and closing the disadvantaged attainment gap”.

Its report reveals that the DfE had “recognised the extension could widen the attainment gap and considered extending entitlements to younger disadvantaged children”.

But “government opted not to progress this, given affordability concerns”.

In raising its concerns, the NAO cites research by the Institute of Fiscal Studies that “higher income families will benefit more” and the poorest 30 per cent will see “almost no direct benefit”.

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