Alliance voices disappointment following publication of childcare consultation results
2nd October 2015
Commenting on the Analysis of responses to the call for evidence on the cost of providing childcare, published today by the Department for Education, Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance, said:
“We are disappointed, but not surprised, that this consultation seems to have been an exercise in futility. As we warned at the time, the scope of the consultation was far too broad, and likely to result in responses of limited practical value. The DfE has complained that responses ‘were often not supported by figures’ when it did not ask for figures in the original call for evidence - instead, it simply instructed providers to give ‘any information’ they wished to provide.
“As a result, the conclusions drawn from the call for evidence - that staff, rents, utilities and equipment account for a significant proportion of provider costs - are nothing new, and are likely to be of limited value to peers as they debate the Childcare Bill at report stage.
“With the overall funding review still underway, we hope the DfE will continue to work with the Alliance to ensure that any further discussions on childcare funding are underpinned by a detailed understanding of delivery costs and that, crucially, this progress is not unduly rushed in a bid to push the bill through as soon as possible.”
For further information or to interview, Neil Leitch, Chief Executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance please contact:
Shannon Hawthorne
Pre-school Learning Alliance
T: 020 7697 2503
E: Shannon Hawthorne
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Notes for editors
- The Pre-school Learning Alliance is the largest voluntary sector provider of quality affordable childcare and education in England.
- Through direct provision and its membership of 14,000 nurseries, sessional pre-schools and parent and toddler groups, the Alliance supports over 800,000 children and their families in England. The Alliance also develops and runs family learning programmes, offers information and advice, runs acclaimed training and accreditation programmes and campaigns to influence early years policy and practice.
- For information about the Pre-school Learning Alliance, visit our website: