Alliance reacts to delay in government response to Education Committee's early years inquiry
The Early Years Alliance has issued a comment in response to the fact that the government's response to the Education Select Committee's inquiry on the early years is a week overdue.
Earlier this year, the Education Select Committee launched an inquiry into childcare and the early years. Subsequently, in July the Committee's report on this was published and the government was given until 26 September to issue its response. However, this has yet to be published.
Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said:
“We are both disappointed and frustrated that the government’s response to the Education Committee’s early years inquiry is now a week overdue.
“Not only did the report shed light on the array of challenges the sector is facing, particularly underfunding and staffing, but the early years is on the brink of its biggest expansion in years. As such, the early years should be at the forefront of ministers’ minds and at the top of their priority list – and yet, instead, we’re left waiting for them to even acknowledge the report’s publication.
“The early years cannot afford for the government to drag its feet on addressing the challenges facing the sector any longer. We therefore urge the Department for Education to respond to the Education Committee’s inquiry without further delay."