However, a gap between policy and practice is opening up around school readiness and positive parenting, which cannot be met via the offer of ever-more hours of free childcare.
Investment in the flagship free childcare policy is set to rise to an astonishing £6bn by 2020, however, the rates paid to providers do not guarantee quality and emerging evidence suggests the 30-hour offer may in fact entrench disadvantage by displacing children from non-working families who qualify for fewer hours. This ongoing focus on childcare rather than developing high-quality early education does seem somewhat at odds with the social mobility agenda. In these times of rising inequality and falling investment in public services, it's more important than ever that we spend our money wisely, for me this means much more funding being targeted towards those with the greatest need to affect a generational change.
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