By Caroline Graham
At the Pre-school Learning Alliance we want a society where every child enjoys opportunities to develop and learn through play.
Achieving this vision means early years providers must be properly supported, so we work hard to represent the early years sector to ensure their concerns are heard by policymakers.
That鈥檚 why we are a founding sponsor of an 鈥 an agency specialising in early years research 鈥 to provide evidence and insight to inform early years policy and practice.
To gather as much meaningful data as possible, we are looking for representatives from nurseries, pre-schools and childminders to join the panel and complete online surveys three times a year in spring, summer and autumn.
Research such as this is so important to convince policymakers (who often have limited understanding of the sector) that families and childcare providers deserve better.
Just this week, the importance of providing the government with good evidence was highlighted when Shadow Education Secretary , the minister of state responsible for early years, about adequate funding for local authorities and financial viability for providers with regards to the 30 hours entitlement.
Mr Goodwill replied that: "Recent research conducted by Frontier Economics, calculated the average hourly costs of providing childcare for three and four year olds, and the Government鈥檚 new funding rates compare very favourably to these. We will keep under review the data underpinning the new Early Years National Funding Formula, which is used to distribute funding for the early years entitlements."
Groundbreaking analysis
鈥淭he About Early Years panel will break new ground in delivering regular large-scale analysis of key sector issues including capacity, occupancy, funding levels, delivery costs, workforce recruitment and more,鈥 explains Dr Jo Verrill, Ceeda鈥檚 Managing Director.
鈥淥ur aims are twofold: to establish a sound evidence base to inform accountable early years policy making at national level; and to give individual childcare providers the vital information they need to plan for the future.
鈥淎ll registered PVI settings are being invited to join the panel 鈥 over 750 nurseries have signed up in the last six weeks alone. And the campaign is on its way to childminders soon,鈥 she added.
In total we are looking to recruit a panel of 3,000 day nurseries and pre-schools and 1,000 childminders so it鈥檚 ambitious but we feel it鈥檚 important the panel is a representative as possible.
What鈥檚 in it for me?
It is completely free to take part but of course it will take up some of your time 鈥 we estimate about one-and-a-half days a year.
But in return you will receive free analysis of your own key statistics plus sector comparisons on pay rates, hourly costs, occupancy and much more.
The data you鈥檒l get will include facts such as:
- Hourly delivery costs
- Pay rates by age and qualification level
- Childcare fees
- Occupancy levels
- Staff turnover, vacancies and recruitment difficulties
Such data will provide you and your setting with vital information to help you plan better and prepare for the future 鈥 promoting efficiency and saving you time overall.
Will my information be safe?
Rest assured your contributions will be absolutely protected and confidential. The protection of your data is our first priority. Your data will be controlled and processed by Ceeda for research purposes only and will not be shared with any other party, for any other purpose.
If you have any concerns about how your data will be handled, please read .
Why should I do this?
Well, big policy decisions are being made with limited understanding of sector capacity, costs and workforce challenges.
We think families and childcare providers deserve better.
If you submit your data, it will be collected and used as a solid evidence base that will inform better policy-making in the future.
We hope you鈥檒l be part of it.
Where next?
Find out how the
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