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Please find below a comment from the Early Years Alliance on  highlighting local authorities' concerns about the sufficiency of early years places ahead of the rollout of the early entitlement expansion.

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

"It will come as no surprise to anyone in the early years sector that local authorities aren't confident there will be enough places for the extended funded hours offer.

"Years of neglect have left the sector in tatters, with thousands of settings across the country being forced to close every year, while those that remain open struggle to recruit and retain the staff they need to meet demand.

"Rather than address these issues, the government instead decided to announce a rushed and ill-thought-out scheme that will only put more pressure on an already incredibly fragile sector.

"Unless the government takes urgent action and invests what's needed to make this plan workable, its flagship policy is likely to descend into chaos."

Commenting on the research finding showing that 64% of local authorities identified ‘sufficiency of childcare places for children with SEND’ as barriers to the successful delivery of the early years expansion, while 55% said the same of ‘funding to support children with SEND’ , Neil said:

"All children, including those with special educational needs and disabilities, should be able to access a high-quality early education and yet, as this research clearly shows, in a growing number of areas of the country, this is simply not the case. 

"The fact that so many local authorities are worried about being able to secure and adequately fund places for children with SEND is a truly shameful state of affairs. 

"Unless the government finally acknowledges the reality of the current situation – that early years settings simply do not have the places needed to meet current, let alone future, demand – things will only get worse. Minister need to change course, and fast – otherwise, it is those children and families who are most in need of support that will be the hardest hit."