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The Early Years Alliance has issued a comment following reports that Labour is set to include plans to fund new nurseries in primary schools across the country in its manifesto.

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

"Given that more than three-quarters of early years places in this country are delivered by private and voluntary nurseries, pre-schools and childminders, it’s disappointing that Labour continues to place such focus on primary school-based nursery provision.  

"This is especially true given that we are only months away from the expansion of the early entitlement offer to one- and two-year-olds, and that the vast majority of schools are unlikely to have the appropriate premises and resources, or staff with the necessary skills and experience, to deliver quality places to this age group. 

"If Labour is serious about creating more early years places, its priority should be ensuring that the whole sector is adequately funded, both today and in the future, and tackling the current staffing crisis as a matter of urgency.  

"The private and voluntary sector is, and will always be, an essential part of our early years system. Any political party that fails to recognise this is unlikely to be able to deliver the affordable, accessible, quality early years places that children and families need."