CYP Now - Enough funding for providers is voters’ top childcare priority ahead of election

Voters believe the best way to improve early education and childcare is to ensure providers are properly funded to deliver government schemes such as the expansion of free childcare hours for working families.

A plan to improve recruitment and retention is staff is also need to sustain the early years sector, leaders say. Picture: LightfieldStudios/Adobe Stock

This was highlighted as the policy that would make the single biggest difference to childcare in England, in a survey that took place last week among 2,000 people.

Among respondents three in 10 backed adequate funding to ensure providers can cover the cost of delivering government early years schemes.

The next most popular policy was for a workforce strategy for early years to be put in place. This was mentioned by one in eight people who responded to the survey, which has been carried out by the Early Education and Childcare Coalition (EECC).

June O’Sullivan, chief executive of coalition member London Early Years Foundation, said that “whichever political party comes into power on Friday needs to ensure that both the funding and provision will be adequate” to ensure all children can access early years care and education.

Register Now to Continue Reading

Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's Included