Early Years Alliance chief executive Neil Leitch to declare early years a 'sector in crisis' at Alliance annual conference
Leading membership organisation the Early Years Alliance has issued a press release on the contents of the keynote speech to be delivered by Alliance CEO Neil Leitch at our virtual annual conference, which is taking place this evening from 6pm.
Alliance chief executive Neil Leitch is set to liken the immense frustration of early years professionals in England to that of climate change activists during his Early Years Alliance Annual Conference keynote speech later today, arguing that the sector鈥檚 warning that it is 鈥渋n crisis鈥 continues to fall on deaf ears despite the potentially catastrophic consequences of government inaction.
The conference, Small Steps, Big Changes: building an ambitious vision for the early years, will take place virtually at 6pm this evening (Thursday 9 June 2022).
In his speech, Neil will argue that early years professionals can 鈥渞elate to that very same frustration鈥 of climate activists, saying:
鈥淲e鈥檝e been crying out for so long that things need to change, that the sector is in crisis, that we need to act now to ensure we are able to continue to provide the best possible care and education for our children and families, and yet, so little seems to change.
鈥淚nstead, year after year, we have the same conversations - the same battles, over and over again.鈥
Neil will also criticise government plans to consult on changes to early years ratios in England later this summer, saying:
鈥淚f implemented, this policy will not only put the quality of care and early education that children receive at risk, but it will also be an enormous backward step in how early years provision is viewed and understood in this country.鈥
He will also stress that the sector鈥檚 concerns about the proposals go beyond that of safety, saying:
鈥溾e are not babysitters. We aren鈥檛 simply there to keep children fed and watered. Of course, keeping them safe is a priority 鈥 but that alone is not what we do.
鈥淲e are educators. Our job is to build the foundations of learning and development that will shape these children, and I don鈥檛 mean sharp go-getters who will step over others for money and careers ... I mean caring, kind, thoughtful, unbiased children that will drive the safety and security of our world. And relaxing ratios threatens our ability to do just that.鈥
The conference will also feature keynote speeches from Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, WHO BreatheLife ambassador and founder of the Ella Roberta Family Foundation, and Andreas Rasch-Christensen, PhD, director of research at VIA University College in Denmark.
A recording of the conference will be available shortly after the event and an embargoed transcript of Neil Leitch鈥檚 speech is available on request.