Alliance comments on 新澳门六合彩官网开奖 early years annual report

13th July 2015

Commenting on the 新澳门六合彩官网开奖 early years annual report, published today, Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance, said:

鈥淲e welcome the report鈥檚 recognition of the marked improvement in inspection outcomes in the early years sector over recent years.

鈥淲e hope that these figures will put to rest to the oft-cited - but baseless - claim that PVI provision is of low quality. The reality is that, despite limited financial and practical support, the vast majority of pre-schools, nurseries and childminders are consistently delivering high-quality care and education to the children and families that they support - and have demonstrated that they are doing so despite 新澳门六合彩官网开奖鈥檚 鈥榯ougher鈥 approach to inspections.

鈥淚t is concerning that there remains such a significant gap between the outcomes of children from more poorer backgrounds and their peers. The first five years are pivotal to a child鈥檚 long-term learning and development, and so it is crucial that all children, regardless of background, are given the best possible start in life. Supporting children from more disadvantaged backgrounds often requires more one-to-one care and greater time liaising with external agencies, all of which has significant cost implications. As such, adequate investment into the early years sector remains absolutely vital to closing this gap - a fact that the Department for Education should reflect on as it carries out its upcoming review into funding.鈥

Commenting on Sir Michael Wilshaw鈥檚 call for more to be done to 鈥渋ncentivise schools to take more disadvantaged two-year-olds鈥, Neil said:

"It's disappointing that, although the statistics show that the vast majority of PVI providers are 鈥榞ood鈥 or 鈥榦utstanding鈥, 新澳门六合彩官网开奖 remains so focused on schools as providers of places for funded two-year-olds. Given that government research shows that very few schools currently offer funded places under the two-year-old free entitlement scheme, or plan to do so in the future, it would seem a far more sensible and logical approach to concentrate resources and investment on ensuring the sustainable delivery of such places through extensive network of experienced PVI providers."

For further information or to interview, Neil Leitch, Chief Executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance please contact:
Shannon Hawthorne
Pre-school Learning Alliance
T: 020 7697 2503
E: Shannon Hawthorne

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Notes for editors

  1. The Pre-school Learning Alliance is the largest voluntary sector provider of quality affordable childcare and education in England.
  2. Through direct provision and its membership of 14,000 nurseries, sessional pre-schools and parent and toddler groups, the Alliance supports over 800,000 children and their families in England. The Alliance also develops and runs family learning programmes, offers information and advice, runs acclaimed training and accreditation programmes and campaigns to influence early years policy and practice.
  3. For information about the Pre-school Learning Alliance, visit our website:

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