аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø¿ª½±

The Early Years Alliance has responded in response to: Implications of Covid for Early Childhood Education and Care, a study funded by the Nuffield Foundation, and carried out by the Centre for Evidence and Implementation, the University of East London, Frontier Economics, Coram Family and Childcare and the Institute for Fiscal Studies. You can read the report . 

Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said:

“We know that quality early years provision has a particularly positive impact on the early learning and development of children from more disadvantaged backgrounds. As such, it is deeply concerning that today’s report shows that these children, alongside those from ethnic minority backgrounds, missed out on significantly more early education during the pandemic. 

“Equally concerning is the report’s finding that the pandemic's significant negative impact on the financial sustainability of early years providers had ‘serious implications’ for children with complex needs, who found it increasingly difficult to access places. 

“All children, regardless of background, should be able to access high-quality early years care and education – but for this to be the case, we need an adequately-funded sector with a stable workforce able to deliver this provision, which means greater government investment. 

"Rather than wasting time debating the relaxation of ratios, the government should be focusing on helping the sector recover from the significant and long-lasting impact of the pandemic, and supporting providers to continue delivering the quality care and education that young children both need and deserve."