Commenting Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance,
said:
"If there is one thing that the first phase of the entitlement
expansion has shown, it’s that simply promising ‘more free
childcare’ is meaningless if you’re not willing to invest in the
infrastructure needed to deliver it.
"As our own research shows, nurseries, childminders and
pre-schools are already facing severe capacity challenges, with
68% of settings full before the expansion has even begun – and as
a result, many have had no choice but to limit the number of new
funded places they offer. It’s completely unsurprising,
therefore, that many parents accessing a place for the first time
have found it difficult - if not impossible - to do so.
"Meanwhile, a combination of sustained underfunding and minimum
wage rises has forced many providers to increase fees at an even
higher rate than normal just to stay afloat – meaning that even
those parents who have been able to access places are likely to
see sharp increases in the cost of any paid-for hours.
"With just five months to go until the next phase of the
expansion, which is likely to result in an even greater increase
in the demand for new places, it’s clear that urgent action is
needed from government.
"For there to be any chance of this policy being rolled out
successfully over the long term, ministers simply must tackle the
fundamental problems facing the sector: that means adequate
funding – so that settings can both keep prices low and offer the
kind of wages that ensures that they can attract and keep quality
staff – and a clear workforce strategy that focuses on retention
as well as recruitment.
"Ministers have made a big promise to parents. Only by providing
the support that the sector needs will they be able to keep it."
