Alliance reacts to Children's Minister giving evidence at Education Committee
The Early Years Alliance has issued a comment this morning's Education Committee in which Claire Coutinho, Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing, gave evidence as part of the committee's review into childcare and the early years.
Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said:
"While it is positive to hear that the Children's Minister is eager to properly consult with the early years sector before the funding increases and the expansion of the 30-hour offer, given the government鈥檚 recent track record providers are right to be sceptical about what this will actually mean in practice.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no question that it would have been much more beneficial if they engaged and consulted with the sector before announcing the expansion in the Budget. If it had it would have realised the extreme pressure it was likely to place on a sector already under considerable strain.
鈥淎nd, as the outcome of the ratios consultation shows, the government must not just listen to the sector鈥檚 concerns and still charge ahead with changes regardless, but make sure that any sector-specific plans reflect what is best for the sector and, importantly, the child.
鈥淥f course, as the minister noted, it is right that the importance of the sector and its educators are valued and recognised, but words alone are simply not enough. It is vital, therefore, that in the coming weeks and months the early years sector plays a central role in shaping the expansion plans and we look forward to supporting this in anyway we can.鈥