Labour's Shadow Education Secretary today slammed the
Conservatives' “childcare pledge without a plan” after a new
dossier published by the party revealed families across the
country struggling to access childcare.
The dossier contains:
- New data obtained by Labour from Ofsted showing that the
number of childcare places fell by more than 1,000 in the
six months between March and December 2023 alongside a fall in
the number of providers.
- Testimonials from parents and nurseries in every region of
England revealing a childcare system in disarray, with families
unable to access already scarce places and struggling under the
weight of sky-high childcare costs.
- Warnings from providers that they will be “forced to go bust”
under the Conservatives' new childcare offer.
Labour's intervention comes after major new childcare research
showed a continued decrease in the availability of childcare in
England just weeks before the start of a new childcare scheme
announced at the 2023 Budget already beset by problems.
Parents called the system “diabolical”, complained of
astronomical costs and additional fees to pay, while others
reported struggling to access new entitlements with ineffective
access codes, nurseries withdrawing from the scheme due to its
cost and 18 month waiting lists at some nurseries.
Phillipson today called on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to
guarantee that eligible parents would not lose out on places and
that nurseries would not be forced out of business as a result of
the Conservatives' “blotched” childcare pledge.
Responding to the news, Bridget Phillipson MP, Labour's Shadow
Education Secretary, said:
“After 14 years of Tory failure, it will be Labour who get on
with the job and finally deliver the much-needed childcare for
parents.
“That is why we have commissioned respected former Ofsted
Inspector Sir David Bell to lead a review on early education and
childcare to guarantee early years entitlements for
parents.
“Only Labour will reform our childcare system and deliver the
accessible, affordable early years education that will give
children the best start in life.”
