CYP Now - Sector ‘disappointed’ over Spending Review’s failure to do more for disadvantaged children

Sector leaders have expressed “disappointment” over a lack of investment to support the most vulnerable children and young people following the announcement of Rishi Sunak’s Spending Review.

Teachers have reported children going to school hungry and unwashed. Picture: Adobe Stock

The Chancellor today announced details of the Treasury’s one-year Spending Review aimed solely at helping the UK’s recovery from the impact of Covid-19.

Sunak was urged to “put children at the heart of the review” by hundreds of young people and professionals across the sector including children’s commissioner for England Anne Longfield.

Others criticised plans to reduce the review to one-year, branding it a “sticking plaster” for issues facing local authorities, early years providers and the youth work sector.

The Chancellor pledged support for services including £300m for local authority social care departments, £16.5m for a youth Covid-19 Support Fund and £44m to increase the hourly rate paid to childcare providers but many have questioned if enough has been done to protect vulnerable children as the economy shrunk at a faster rate than at any time in the last 300 years.

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