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Leading membership organisation the Early Years Alliance has commented in response to today's report from the IPPR on early education and childcare in England. The report can be read .

Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said: 

“It is extremely concerning, but sadly not at all surprising, that our disjointed childcare and early education system is forcing parents to have to effectively pay to return to work as a result of both high fees and insufficient government support.  

“Every family should be able to afford and access quality early education and care, and we know that providers are going above and beyond to make this happen – but the harsh reality is that years of severe underfunding have left many with no option but to increase fees just to stay afloat, resulting in a huge financial pressure on families, and particularly those with lower household incomes. 

“Research conducted by the Alliance earlier this year found that an overwhelming majority of providers said the funding they receive for so-called ‘free childcare’ places is less than the cost of delivery and that even those settings that received funding increases this year said that it wasn’t enough to cover delivery costs.   

“Time and time again, the sector has urged the government to come up with a long-term plan that includes realistic funding, but these calls continue to fall on deaf ears. Now, as the situation is fast approaching a catastrophe, the government needs to stop sticking its head in the sand and start investing in our vital sector, before the damage becomes irreversible.”