Alliance publishes its manifesto for the next government
Leading early years membership organisation the Early Years Alliance has today published its manifesto for the next government ahead of the upcoming general election, widely expected to take place at the end of 2024.
The manifesto includes key actions and recommendations, such as calls to an emergency financial rescue package for providers in most need of financial support, the development of a comprehensive recruitment and retention strategy, and adequate and timely funding and support for children with SEND.
Together, these recommendations shape the Alliance's vision for an early years sector that has the needs of all children at its heart, provides a consistent pathway of support for families during the first five years of a child's life and recognises and values those working in the early years as education professionals.
Next year鈥檚 general election comes at a crucial time for the early years sector, with the phased rollout of the expanded early entitlement offers set to begin in April 2024. By September 2025, the policy will offer all children aged nine months onwards from eligible working families access to 30 hours of government-funded early education and care. However, this expansion comes at a time when early years settings are already facing a wide array of challenges, particularly a chronic lack of adequate government funding and severe staffing shortages, with almost 5,000 settings forced to close over the past year alone.
The Alliance鈥檚 manifesto for government can be read here:
Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said:
鈥淭here has never been a more pivotal time for the early years. For far too long, the sector has been used as a political football by all parties, and forced to deal with the fallout of underfunded promises made to families. And with the expansion of the 30-hour offer fast approaching, many providers who are already struggling to keep their heads above water are set to be put under even more pressure going forward.
鈥淲e鈥檙e clear that whichever political party is in government after the next election, urgent support 鈥 and crucially 鈥 investment in the early years underpinned by a comprehensive long-term plan for the sector must form a key part of their priorities.鈥
鈥淎s such, we hope that every political party takes notes of our recommendations and ensures that the early years, and the urgent need to provide greater support to children, families and the workforce, is front and centre in their own respective manifestos."