Early Education and Childcare Coalition

📰 Ahead of our annual conference, five individuals from across the sector came together to write articles on a number of topics in relation to poverty, creating a Conference Bulletin for attendees to read on the day. Article topics include: • Disability and poverty • The right to health • Temporary accommodation • Affordability of childcare • Accessibility to advice. The bulletin is now available to read on our website 👉 https://lnkd.in/es73dtEw

A new survey from the Early Years Alliance has found that as a result of the combined impact of NI rises, minimum wage increases and updating charging guidance: - Nearly six in 10 early years settings in England are likely to cut the number of three-and four-year-old funded places they offer, or opt out of offering funded places for this age group entirely, with a quarter of providers likely to do the same for funded two-year-old places over the next 12 months - Only a third of providers offering funded two-year-old places for 15 hours a week are planning to extend all these places to 30 hours a week from September (when the entitlement scheme is due to expand), with only around two in five planning the same for funded places for under-twos - 94% of providers are likely to increase fees for non-government funded hours over the next year, with eight in ten introducing or increasing optional charges Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance said: “These survey findings should set alarm bells ringing across government. At a time when ministers are looking to significantly expand the early entitlement scheme, we have a huge proportion of providers warning that the exact opposite is likely, with many forced to limit funded places or opt out of the offers entirely due to unsustainable financial pressures.    “While we of course recognise the need to ensure clarity and transparency for parents when it comes to additional charges for entitlement places, the fact is that this updated guidance has been implemented against a backdrop of severe and sustained underfunding, which the government has yet to address, or even acknowledge. Add to this the impact of upcoming increases in both National Insurance contributions and the national minimum and living wage, and you have a perfect storm of challenges for early years providers – one that many will not be able to survive.     “If the government is to have any chance of ensuring that families can access the quality, affordable early years care and education that they’ve been promised, then it needs to support the businesses that deliver this. That means ensuring that funding actually meets the cost of delivering high-quality places, both now and in the future, so that providers don’t need to rely on additional charges to keep their settings afloat and are able to withstand changes like the upcoming National Insurance rise.    “It is one thing to recognise the importance of the early years, but it is quite another to deliver the financial and practical support that settings need – and make no mistake, our sector needs it now. We therefore urge the government to work with the sector and ensure that the early years gets the investment it needs to deliver on the promise made to parents – before we reach the point of no return.”   Thank you to everyone who responded to our survey, the results of which will be critical to our ongoing talks with government.   Read more: https://bit.ly/4iHtYVc

REVEALED: A huge 30% of migrant parents not using childcare are struggling to make ends meet. Our new report with IPPR is out & here’s what you need to know… ❌Migrant parents are being held back from working by barriers accessing childcare. 40% of migrant parents we spoke to who are not using childcare said they are or their partner are unable to get a job at all. ❌Migrant parents are much less likely to use the childcare entitlements they are eligible for than the general population. Just 17% said they are using of the universal entitlement and 10% using the ‘disadvantaged’ two-year-old entitlement. ❌With parents locked out, children miss out. More than a third of parents surveyed were concerned that their children would be less well-prepared for school than their peers. What needs to change 👇 1. The government should start by opening up help with the cost of childcare to all families, no matter their immigration status. 2. The Department for Education should review uptake of the entitlement for ‘disadvantaged’ two-year-olds among low-income families with No Recourse to Public Funds. 3. The government must also take steps to ensure that providers of family services are better equipped to help migrant families understand and take up the entitlements they are eligible for. Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/ercWzHZ2

Better early childhood education and care policies aren't just about investing more, but about investing more efficiently. That’s one of the recommendations of a new OECD report that outlines a new policy roadmap to ensure all young children can go to high-quality creches, nurseries and kindergartens. At the moment: ▶️ Disadvantaged children are less likely to participate in early childhood education and care. ▶️ In eight out of 28 OECD countries with room for improvement, socio-economic gaps have widened for children aged 3 to 5. ▶️ Disadvantaged children often receive lower-quality early education and care services. Many OECD countries can, and should, do better! Find out how – read Reducing Inequalities by Investing in Early Childhood Education and Care: https://lnkd.in/g6iKUibX #EarlyChildhoodEducationandCare #ChildDevelopment #Education #Daycare #Kindergarten #Learning