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The Early Years Alliance has responded to the long-awaited publication of the  white paper by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

“The government’s levelling up white paper rightly acknowledges that ‘children’s early experiences affect lifelong physical and emotional health,’ which means that ‘all children and families need to be able to access high quality early years education’.

"It is absurd, therefore, that the paper should fail to make a single mention of any new investment into early education and care, while still suggesting that the government's plans will achieve substantial improvements in children’s educational attainment.

"As so much research has shown, quality early years provision has the biggest impact on children and families living in the areas of greatest disadvantage. By once again failing to recognise the need to invest in early education, the government risks allowing the attainment gap between disadvantaged children and their peers to widen even further. 

"We urge ministers to address this senseless oversight and ensure that investment into our vital sector forms an important part of any future 'levelling up' plans."



EDITOR NOTES

• For references to early years see p.187 of the report (pdf page reference 219)