Alliance comments on Resolution Foundation childcare report
28th August 2014
Commenting on the Resolution Foundation report on the English childcare market, Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance said:
“We welcome the report’s call for substantial increased investment into the early years sector. Building a childcare system that is not only affordable but also high-quality is vital to ensuring that all children, and especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, are given the best possible start in life - but this can only be achieved with adequate government funding.
“The sector is wholly supportive of ambitions to develop a more highly-qualified early years workforce. However, since the removal of the Graduate Leader Fund in 2011, providers have received little practical support to help achieve this aim. As recognised by the report, the new early years pupil premium - while a step in the right direction - is highly unlikely to cover the cost of a graduate practitioner, as has been suggested by the government.
“It’s vital that the Department for Education starts engaging with the sector in order to gain a better understanding of the challenges currently facing childcare providers, and how best they can supported to deliver high-quality, affordable childcare to children and families.”
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Notes for editors
- The report, World Class: What does international evidence tell us about improving quality, access and affordability in the English childcare market
- 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.
- For information about the Pre-school Learning Alliance, visit our website: