Labour calls for ‘big conversation’ around early years cuts

The mass closures, due to spending cuts and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, could see 345,000 women would be at risk of losing their jobs if further childcare providers were lost, the research adds.

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According to the Labour Party, the sector has seen spending on Sure Start children’s centres and children under five cut by 40 per cent since 2015.

The figures have been released as the party launches a series of events on early years to talk to families about the importance of early education and childcare services.

On a visit to a London Early Years Foundation (LEYF) nursery with London mayor Sadiq Khan, shadow education secretary Kate Green MP, shadow early years minister Tulip Siddiq MP will speak about how she wants a “big conversation” on early years, as part of Labour’s Bright Future Taskforce, working to ensure every child can recover from the pandemic and achieve their potential.

Siddiq said: “The early years are critical for a child’s development and childcare is a fundamental building block of our economy but, over the last decade, early years services have been neglected.

“This conservative government has failed to listen to families who have been unable to get the childcare, early education and wellbeing support they need.

“As we emerge from the pandemic, we need to have a big conversation with the public about how we can rebuild this essential infrastructure.”

Green added: “The conservatives have treated children as an afterthought throughout this pandemic and had no plan to protect early years providers nor support the families who rely on their vital services.

“Labour wants to see children at the heart of our national recovery.

“Through engagement with parents, providers, children and experts our Bright Future Taskforce will develop a national strategy to ensure every child can recover the learning and social development lost during the pandemic and has the chance to reach their full potential.”

Early years leaders have welcomed the call for a “big conversation”.

June O’Sullivan, chief executive of LEYF, said: “Nurseries are important for two reasons. Firstly, they support children’s learning, especially those who are disadvantaged and secondly, they provide a vital infrastructure to the economy by allowing parents to go to work. This is especially pertinent if we are to help people out of poverty. 

“Yet for many years, families have been so very badly let down by consecutive governments that have all talked about the importance of the Early Years and access to high quality affordable childcare, yet no one is prepared to fund it properly. This is despite the raft of research which shows how important it is to a child's long-term educational success. 

“We welcome the launch of this 'big conversation' and an actionable strategy that ensures every child can recover from the pandemic and reach their full potential.”

Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of National Day Nurseries Association said: “For years NDNA has been providing our own research and evidence about under-funding of early years and the funded entitlement to the government in order to increase their investment in children’s crucial developmental years.

“We all know how important early learning and childcare is for children’s development, in reducing the attainment gap and giving all children the chance to realise their full potential.

“The vast majority of funded childcare places are taken up in nurseries so it’s vital that the funding is fair and works for providers and parents. 

“As the Voice of the Sector, we want to see this policy put right so that providers don’t have a shortfall which is often passed onto parents. We want a full review into funding and the funding approach to take place and will work with MPs and ministers to get it right for early years.”