Government claims about early years sufficiency branded 'meaningless' following Alliance FOI
By Rachel Lawler
Most local authorities in England collect little to no data on whether early years provision in their area meets family needs, according to the results of an investigation by the Alliance.
The investigation saw a Freedom of Information (FoI) request sent to all local authorities in England about the data they collect on early years sufficiency in their area.
While 96% of local authorities said that they had sufficient early years places, fewer than one in six collect data on the proportion of local parents who are able to access the number of days/sessions they need, when they need and where they need it.
Lack of data
Of the 117 local authorities that responded, only 15% currently collect information on what proportion of parents and carers in the area can access the quantity of early years provision that they would like to – for example, if they need three full days a week of early years provision, whether or not they are able to access three full days or can only access two.
Only 14% of those that responded currently collect data on what proportion of parents and carers in the area can access early years provision on the specific times and dates that they want. For example, if they want Mondays and Tuesdays but have had to settle for Mondays and Wednesdays.
Only 9% of those that responded currently collect data on what proportion of parents and carers in the area are able to access early education and childcare at their first-choice early years setting.
Limited availability
Andrew Howarth, director at Paint Pots Nurseries, based in north-west England, said: “At two of our three settings, we have had to restrict session times to a pattern we can staff for. For example, if a parent often wants an extra hour or two if it falls outside this strict pattern, we usually have to refuse.
“We have lost children to other settings for not being able to offer the flexibility that they require, however, we have to be strict to remain sustainable."
Robin, a parent based in south-west London, said: “We're really lucky to have a range of early years settings in our local area and the nursery our son attends is a really great setting. However, sometimes the setting's opening hours and availability often makes it tricky to juggle work.
“He currently attends three mornings a week and we were hoping this would be on consecutive days, but unfortunately the nursery didn't have spaces on consecutive days, so we have had to move our schedules to work around what was available.”
SEND provision
Despite the government’s recently-renewed commitment to supporting children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) across the country, less than one in 10 local authorities collect the same information specifically from parents of children with SEND.
Staffing crisis
Commenting, Alliance CEO Neil Leitch said: “While there has been a lot of talk of lowering the cost of early years provision, much less has been said of the need to make sure that families are actually able to access places. Our sector is in midst of the worst staffing crisis for decades, forcing more and more providers to restrict hours and limit sessions, all of which has a direct impact on both children and their parents.
“Ministers argue that local authorities are saying they have enough early years places – but if hardly anyone is asking whether or not parents are able to get places for as many days as they need, at the times they need and where they need them, then clearly any government claims of ‘sufficient places’ are utterly meaningless in practical terms.
“If you’re a parent who, say, needs a nursery, pre-school or childminding place for four days a week, but can only secure one day a week, and it's at a setting 25 minutes away, then constant assurances from government that all is fine are understandably going to ring completely hollow – and this is exactly the sort of situation that families up and down the country are currently facing.
“We know that local authorities work hard to support families to access the care and education that they need, but with more and more settings being forced to limit spaces, restrict opening hours, or close all together as a result of sustained underfunding and severe staffing shortages, this is becoming an increasingly impossible task.
“As the calls for early years reform grow ever louder, it’s critical that alongside building an affordable childcare system, we look to build one that is accessible, as well as sustainable and high-quality.
“This means a long-term comprehensive government strategy, underpinned by adequate investment, that ensures that all early years settings are able to offer the care and education families need, when they need it. It also means steering well clear of ill-thought-out policies like relaxing ratios that will only worsen the current severe recruitment and retention crisis and risk permanently damaging our already-fragile sector."