General election result: Sector calls for 'urgent' investment in early years and an end to child poverty
Fiona Simpson
Friday, December 13, 2019
Early years leaders have called on the government for “urgent” investment in the sector following the Conservative Party’s election win.
Meanwhile, education leaders have demanded an end to increasing child poverty rates.
Boris Johnson’s party won by a majority of 80 seats with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn announcing he would not lead his party in another election.
As the results emerged on Friday morning (13 December), early years and education groups called for children to be made a priority by the new government.
Early years
The Early Years Alliance (EYA) warned that the Conservative government “could leave the sector facing an £800m funding shortfall by the end of this parliament that will further increase parent fees and force more providers to close”.
EYA chief executive Neil Latch said: "Childcare providers may have been hoping for a change of direction for the sector as a result of this election. Sadly, with the Conservatives failing to commit to any further funding for the early years, many will still be concerned about the future and long-term viability of their businesses.
“We can't go on like this – we urgently need funding levels to cover the true cost of delivering childcare and a firm commitment for them to be reviewed annually."
The National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) said the government needs “to face up to and address” the challenges surrounding the promise of “free” childcare.
Parents are currently entitled to 30 hours of funded childcare. In their manifesto, the Conservatives pledged to extend this with added “wraparound” care covering evenings and weekends.
The NDNA said: “Funding rates need to cover costs and allow nurseries to deliver the high-quality care we all want to see for our children. At the same time, the growing burden of business rates on nurseries must be addressed as promised.”
Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of NDNA said: “It’s clear that the 30 hours policy is here to stay but we need to make sure it is working for children, parents and childcare providers.
“There were no manifesto plans from the government on how to tackle the workforce crisis in early years but we will continue to campaign hard on this issue as it affects nurseries across the whole of the UK. A dedicated, skilled and well-rewarded workforce is critical to improving children’s outcomes at a vital stage of their development.
“We will continue to fight for the investment and policies the sector needs to deliver this.”
The Professional Association of Childcare and Early Years (Pacey) chief executive Liz Bayram added: "Too many childminders, nurseries and pre-schools are at breaking point because the current funding for government-subsidised early education is not enough to cover the cost of delivering the high-quality experience all children, especially our most disadvantaged, deserve. This should all be backed up with a strategy that ensures practitioners are better valued and rewarded, and families better informed why early education is so important and the types of support available to them.”
Education
The National Education Union (NEU) has called for more investment in schools and an end to child poverty.
Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the NEU, laid out a five-point “to do” list for the Prime Minister:
- End school cuts and invest in education
- End child poverty
- Address the teacher retention and recruitment crisis
- Replace Ofsted with a fair way of evaluating schools
- End high-stakes primary tests
Dr Bousted said: “Parents, teachers and heads will not tolerate five more years of dither and denial about the realities of underfunding. The public is clearly of the consensus that the problem is both real and runs deep.
“There are massive problems in the system which the incoming government must address fast. Schools, colleges and nursery schools face continuing, interlinked, crises in funding, teacher retention and workload.
“Disgracefully, a third of children live in poverty, and this has a devastating impact on their life chances and their access to education. Whilst the Conservative manifesto said little new about children and education, schools across the country are collecting for food banks over Christmas or opening on Christmas Day to support children and families. Ignoring the scale of child poverty and the damage it inflicts isn't an option.”
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, echoed calls for an end to child poverty.
He said: “Where we feel that the Conservatives’ manifesto promises don’t go far enough, we will continue to encourage them to do more. Acting on child poverty must be a priority, for example. Where the government are planning to go too far – no-notice inspections, for instance – we will challenge them.
"Nothing is more important for the long-term success of the nation than the education we provide to our young people. Now is the time to shelve election rhetoric, listen to the profession, and establish the support that is needed and deliver it well."
Post-16 training and education
Johnson has a “huge task ahead to take on the biggest problems facing the country”, post-16 education and training providers said.
David Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, explained: “The task for our new government is to stick to its manifesto investment promises and to build a post-16 system for people everywhere, throughout their lives. The new government has the opportunity to develop the new lifelong learning culture which will be vital in a post-Brexit Britain.”
Association of Employment and Learning Providers chief executive Mark Dawe added: “As a matter of urgency, the February budget and next spending round must ensure that the amazing apprenticeship opportunities are equally accessible for all organisations, no matter what their size, which will also help reverse the decline in the participation of young people and first step apprenticeships that have been hit so badly since the introduction of the levy.
“We need a comprehensive new national skills strategy and getting full value out of the proposed £3bn national skills fund should form a key part of that.”