High Court overturns DfE cuts to Essex Council's early years budget

The courts quashed the DfE’s decision to reduce the council’s early years budget by £10m, upholding Essex’s claim that the cut would have breached equality laws.

The local authority argued that the reduction in funding would disproportionally affect the county’s disabled children and those in areas of most deprivation.

This is because the £10m was earmarked for upgrading existing “substandard accommodation” and building new early years facilities.

The new facilities were designed to be accessible to children with disabilities and to enable parents of disadvantaged children to access free childcare places.

Peter Martin, leader of Essex County Council said legal action was “an unusual step for the council to take” but that the local authority “believed strongly that the rights of the county’s children to have access to these facilities” was “worth campaigning for”.

“While we realise that this is a time of austerity and budgets are tight, we believe it is important to protect those most vulnerable in society and ensure they are given the resources and support they need,” he said.

“Early years provision is of great importance to us, reflected in the fact we have been announced as a pilot area for the relationship support aspect of the government’s support for families scheme.”

Martin added that early years work with children and families is a key component of the council's community budgets pilot.

“We hope the DfE listens to this ruling and makes the necessary adjustments to our funding to ensure parents and children in Essex receive the best possible early year’s provision,” he said.

The DfE has been contacted for a response.