Covid-19 inquiry to include impact on early years

The full terms of reference for the investigation, led by Baroness Hallett, which were published on 29 June, also include plans to look at the impact on children and young people, including health, wellbeing and social care and the impact on education.

The terms of reference were shaped by more than 2,000 public responses to a call for evidence, Hallett said.

• Interview: Helen Hayes MP, shadow children and early years minister

• Inspections Clinic: Mock childcare inspections

Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association, said: “It’s vital that the inquiry uncovers exactly how this pandemic has affected our youngest citizens to make sure that they are always put first in any future crisis and that sufficient support is put in place for all those who care for, educate and support our children. 

“Sadly, this did not happen during Covid-19 and lessons must be learned as a result.”

The publication of the terms of reference comes as latest Ofsted figures reveal a decrease of 4,000 early years providers between April 2021 and March 2022.

The drop represents a six per cent decrease compared with the number of providers registered on 1 April 2021 – the largest annual reduction since 2015/16.

Since 31 August 2015, the number of providers has fallen by 19,100, according to Ofsted.

The report also notes that of 2,600 registered settings visited by Ofsted between September 2021 and March 2022, just 79 per cent that were good or outstanding at their previous inspection continued to be good or outstanding following reinspection.

Of 1,700 providers that had not yet had a first full inspection, 84 per cent were judged good or outstanding.

Tanuku described both the decline in provision and in the quality of remaining settings as “a huge concern”.

“We have heard from our members over the past six months about many inspections which they feel have been unfair and ill judged. We also feel there is an inconsistency of inspection and that it very much depends on the inspector whether nurseries get a fair hearing or not.

“A sudden jump in those who require improvement or are inadequate must mean that either there is an inconsistency of inspection or that nurseries are really struggling with staffing requirements following the two years of the pandemic.

 “The reduction in numbers of providers bears out our own research that more and more nurseries are forced to make the heartbreaking decision to close as a result of inadequate government funding and staffing challenges. Any nursery closing is one too many and devastating for the whole community,” she added.

Analysis of the figures by the Early Years Alliance (EYA) finds that nearly half of all local authorities have seen a fall in early years places over the last five years, with one in eight seeing declines of more than 10 per cent.

Neil Leitch, EYA chief executive, said: “Looking at these statistics, there can be no doubt about the severity of the crisis that our sector is now facing. 

“It is clear that without urgent support, what is currently a dire situation could become catastrophic.  

“What will it take for the government to sit up, listen and take action to protect the future of the early years sector?”