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‘The cost and funding of early education’ report – part of the DfE’s Study of Early Education and Development (SEED) project – is still awaiting publication.

 

The report was commissioned to economic consultancy Frontier Economic, and returned to the DfE in July this year.

 

"We are at a loss as to why, at a time when the DfE is consulting on early years funding changes, it has chosen not to publish a report that could contribute so significantly to this debate,” said Neil Leitch, cheif executive at the Pre-school Learning Alliance.

 

The Alliance has long-argued that government funding does not cover the cost of delivering early years places, and Neil said that even with the promised average increase in rates next year, many providers will still experience a financial shortfall.

 

“The government has repeatedly argued that the new average funding rates are more than enough to cover the cost of delivering places, now and in the future," Neil said. "If that’s the case, then let’s see all the evidence.”