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Please find below a comment from the Early Years Alliance in response to the publication of the Conservative's election manifesto. 

Commenting, Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, said:

"We know that the early entitlement expansion aims to make it easier for families to access affordable high quality early years care and education. Yet, for the sector to be able to deliver these hours sustainably it is absolutely vital that longstanding and severe challenging facing the sector – primarily underfunding and staffing – are addressed.  

"As such, while the Conservative’s manifesto includes a commitment to continue the expansion’s rollout, as well as a reminder of a previous promise to set aside £500m over the next two years to increase funding rates, this alone remains far from enough to safeguard the sector’s future and ensure that providers are able to meet the likely surge in demand for places over the next few years. 

"Ultimately, with just weeks to go until the election, we hope that every political party realises that for families to reap the rewards of early education and care, adequate long-term sector funding and a comprehensive staffing strategy - with an equal focus on recruitment and retention - must be at the heart of any policy plans."