Despite some sector leaders welcoming plans to shelve Liz Truss’s proposed changes, first reported in the Daily Telegraph, many have criticised the postponement of the announcement of alternative solutions to cut costs for parents, arguing that childcare is still “in desperate need of reform”.
Sunak has reportedly scrapped a policy drive to overhaul the childcare system which were under consideration during Liz Truss’s premiership and were rumoured to include the removal of mandatory staff:child ratios in early years settings.
-
Challenges for the sector in 2023
-
Engage in staff:child nursery ratio debate
-
How to adjust ratios and maintain quality
First reported in October last year, plans to slash ratios were met with sector leaders' fears over the impact on children’s wellbeing, increased pressure on practitioners and claims it would not be a reasonable cost-cutting solution for parents or providers.
The original policy is believed to have been scrapped, and announcements of alternative proposals to reform the childcare system is not expected for months.
In addition, any further proposals are expected to be smaller and less ambitious, according to the Telegraph.
Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, welcomed the move to scrap Truss’s proposals, saying: “We know that extending the so-called ‘free entitlement’ offers without significant additional investment into the early years would have placed unsustainable pressure on an already-fragile sector, and that relaxing ratios would have hugely exacerbated the current early years crisis and risked lowering quality in settings, all without saving parents a penny. As such, if reports that these proposals have been scrapped are accurate, this can only be a positive thing.”
However, sector leaders urged the Prime Minister to prioritise the early years sector, with Neil Leitch adding: “The fact that these particular policies were non-starters doesn’t mean that early years reform isn’t urgently needed. As such, it is deeply concerning to hear suggestions that the sector is set to become a lower government priority.
“The fact is that we currently have a system in this country where parents pay some of the highest prices in the world, while early years professionals remain undervalued and underpaid and are leaving the sector in their droves, and thousands of settings are closing each year.
“Investment into the early years is absolutely vital to ensuring both that parents – and primarily mothers – can remain in the workforce and contribute to the economy, and that all children, regardless of background, can get the best possible start in life. If that isn’t a priority, what is?”
Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association said that the system is “in desperate need of reform”, adding: “Government investment in funded places does not cover childcare providers’ costs so many are struggling to remain sustainable. They must be funded to enable them to deliver high quality early education that makes such a difference to all children’s futures.
“In December, when quizzed by the liaison committee, the Prime Minister said that it was clear that intervening early made a big difference and that directing more resources towards that was a ‘good and sensible thing to do'.
“He must make good on this promise and deliver now for our youngest children. Tinkering with childcare ratios will not improve the high cost for parents, only sufficient investment in early education in line with other similar Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries will resolve the current crisis.”
Chief executive of London Early Years Foundation June O’ Sullivan added: "Our new Prime Minister must honour Number 10's levelling up promise by improving the quality, affordability, accessibility and availability of childcare and fix what is currently a broken system.
“There is clear evidence that children who attend nurseries with good quality care and education help achieve better outcomes in life. Considering the childcare sector makes an annual contribution to the GDP of £6billion and provides a childcare infrastructure to enable more than a million families work, now is the time for more structured investment and not meddle with increasing the adult to child ratios which will significantly reduce the time available for staff to spend with each child.”
A spokesperson for the Department for Education told CYP Now: “We continue to review all options to improve the cost, choice and availability of high-quality childcare for working parents, which remains a priority for this government.”
The government consulted on a raft of proposed changes to the childcare system last year, which included relaxing staff:child ratios in early years settings.
Though the consultation closed in September, the government is yet to publish a response.
