Comment on Spring Budget 2023

Steve Crocker, ADCS President, said:

“The greatest opportunity to make a tangible difference to a child’s life is when they are very young and today’s Budget announcement provides some welcome extra funding to support childcare providers. Access to high quality, affordable childcare can give children a better start in life and plays a crucial role in Levelling Up outcomes for children. The announcement to increase the staff to child ratio for two year olds in group setting must be accompanied by appropriate investment in the workforce to ensure that increased ratios continue to provide young children with the nurturing relationships and stimulating environments needed in early years settings.

The extension of the 30 hours ‘free’ childcare offer will mean more children and families can benefit from this policy, but government must ensure the hourly funding rate for providers significantly increases so it is closer to the actual costs of delivery. Under the current system funding is insufficient and many of the most disadvantaged households are not eligible for support. The shortfall in costs means some providers have had to close or pass costs onto families. Reducing the income threshold would helpfully narrow the policy to focus on the most disadvantaged children and families and the funding saved could be reinvested to help the early years sector recruit, and retain, the high-quality workforce they desperately need.

“The additional funding for care leavers is welcome as is more support to help young people with SEND into employment. Initiatives like Staying Close help to equip young people leaving care with the skills needed to live alone and navigate adulthood, such as how to cook, budget and access support. We are pleased the Chancellor used his Budget to expand the Staying Close Programme and provide additional support for foster carers who make a huge difference to the lives of children in care. We hope this will encourage more people who believe they have the right skills to foster to come forward so all of those children who need a foster placement find one.

“The additional support for households with their energy bills is good news and provides much-needed help for families. However, it remains uncertain what support will be available beyond June, when the Energy Price Guarantee is set to end. The rising cost of living is placing enormous pressure on households and will trap and pull more children and families into poverty. We urgently need a cross party, cross departmental strategy to reduce and ultimately end child poverty that extends beyond a single parliamentary term. If we do nothing we will look back in shame.”

ENDS

---

---