Government reveals 'levelling up' white paper
By Rachel Lawler
The government has revealed its plans for 'levelling up' the UK in a published by levelling up secretary Michael Gove.
The paper outlines 12 'missions' to help improve services across the country including increasing the percentage of children achieving the 'expected level of development' in reading, writing and maths across the country, narrowing the gap in life expectancy across different regions and improved public transport links across the country.
In a statement, Gove said: "Levelling up and this white paper is about ending this historic injustice and calling time on the postcode lottery."
The Alliance has criticised the paper's 'absurd' lack of commitments on early education.
Importance of the early years
On the importance of the early years, the white paper says: "Potential is shaped from the very beginning of our lives, and all children and families need to be able to access high quality early years education, schools and support. This provides a strong base for subsequent investment in skills, ensuring that young people and adults can train to access job opportunities and move up the career ladder, regardless of their characteristics, background or where they live."
No new investment
Neil Leitch, CEO of the Alliance, commented: “The government’s levelling up white paper rightly acknowledges that ‘children’s early experiences affect lifelong physical and emotional health,’ which means that ‘all children and families need to be able to access high quality early years education’.
"It is absurd, therefore, that the paper should fail to make a single mention of any new investment into early education and care, while still suggesting that the government's plans will achieve substantial improvements in children’s educational attainment.
"As so much research has shown, quality early years provision has the biggest impact on children and families living in the areas of greatest disadvantage. By once again failing to recognise the need to invest in early education, the government risks allowing the attainment gap between disadvantaged children and their peers to widen even further.
"We urge ministers to address this senseless oversight and ensure that investment into our vital sector forms an important part of any future 'levelling up' plans."