Comment: LGA research on 30 hours free childcare extension

Chris Munday, Chair of the ADCS Resources and Strategy Policy Committee, said:

“The greatest opportunities to make difference to a child’s life occur when they are very young, between 0-5. Access to high quality education during this time is important because it plays a crucial role in reducing the outcomes gap between the most and least disadvantaged children.

“Local authorities have worked closely with providers to deliver the current 30-hours free childcare offer for working families, yet under the existing 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.

“Early years policy has been a focus of all recent governments, with the twin objectives of giving children the best start in life and increasing the number of working families, and this is welcome. However, we have two concerns about the proposed extension of the free childcare offer, the first is about the risk of losing the chance to make a difference to the most disadvantaged children and families and also the need for specific resource to enable the continuation of high quality childcare that meets the needs of children and families. Reducing the income threshold would helpfully narrow the policy to focus on the most disadvantaged children and families and any funding saved could be reinvested to help the early years sector recruit, and retain, the high-quality workforce they desperately need.”

ENDS

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