CYP Now - Researchers criticise lack of evidence for government early years policy

The government's early years strategy is blighted by a lack of evidence and no clear picture about what "high quality childcare" looks like, researchers have concluded.

Research by the Early Intervention Foundation (EIF) and the Education Policy Institute (EPI) has found major gaps in evidence to underpin early years policies, despite £6bn worth of government investment by 2019/20 on initiatives such as 30 hours of funded childcare for three- and four-year-olds in working households.

Their concerns are outlined in two reports, with the EPI looking at issues such as the qualifications of early year staff and child-to-teacher ratios, while the EIF focuses on the day-to-day activities children take part in.

The EPI report found that there is a particular need for more robust evidence on the value offered by early years staff with a degree.

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