Alliance responds to Action for Children report highlighting low-income families struggling to access early years support

The Early Years Alliance has issued a comment in response to a new report from Action for Children which has highlighted that more than a third of low-income families are struggling to access early years parenting support. 

Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said: “It is disappointing but sadly wholly unsurprising to learn that more than a third of low-income families are struggling to access early parenting support. 

“We know that children’s centres and family hubs are a vital source of support, practical advice and guidance for families across the country, and in particular, disadvantaged and vulnerable families – and yet despite this, the number of centres continues to fall at an incredibly worrying rate, with government’s own figures showing that more than 1,300 have closed since 2011.  

“Now more than ever, amid rocketing energy prices and soaring inflation, children and their families need support. For all the government rhetoric on ‘closing the gap’, ‘improving life chances’ and ‘levelling up’, words alone are not enough to change the outlook for low-income families. If ministers are genuinely committed to ensuring that children and families are able to access the early support they need, they must invest in the services that deliver this. 

“All families, regardless of their background or circumstances should be able to access high-quality support and early education – and there is a wealth of research that shows just how significant an impact these services can have on children’s futures. But without proper funding, this is an impossible task. How much worse does the situation need to get for the government to sit up, listen and take action?”