Alliance responds to 新澳门六合彩官网开奖 sector statistics

The Early Years Alliance has issued a comment in response to 新澳门六合彩官网开奖's sector statistics covering the period between 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022. The statistics, which can be read , highlighted the following:

  • In the period there was a net overall decrease of around 4,000 childcare providers, representing the largest decline since 2015鈥16.

  • Overall 70 local authorities have seen a fall in early years places over the last five years (since 31 March 2017)

  • In total, 18 local authorities have seen a fall of more than 10%. Of the 20 local authorities that have seen the highest increase in places over the last five years, 14 are in London.

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

鈥淚t is incredibly concerning that the early years sector lost 4,000 providers over the course of a year, the largest decline in settings since 2015/16. 

鈥淔or years now, we have warned that without urgent government action, and crucially, greater investment, more and more providers would be forced to close 鈥 and looking at these statistics, there can be no doubt about the severity of the crisis that our sector is now facing. What鈥檚 more, with childminders once again representing the majority of provider closures, it鈥檚 clear that the government must do much more to stem the flow of these vital education professionals out of our sector. 

鈥淎nd while the government continues to argue that the overall number of early years places in England remains stable, the decision to focus only on the national picture masks enormous regional disparities. Our analysis of today鈥檚 figures reveals that nearly half of all local authorities have seen a fall in early years places over the last five years, with one in eight seeing declines of more than 10%. 

鈥淓arly years providers are committed to providing quality early education and care to the children and families that need it, and the fact that 96% of settings remain good or outstanding is a testament to the commitment and professionalism of our workforce. But it is clear that without urgent support, what is currently a dire situation could become catastrophic.  

鈥淲hat will it take for the government to sit up, listen and take action to protect the future of the early years sector?鈥  

Regions with the largest percentage increases in places over the past five years and the largest percentage decreases