The Allen Review on prevention and early intervention, the Field Review on child poverty and the Tickell Review on the Early Years Foundation Stage all have important messages about the need to deliver quality services for both children and parents. The early years sector should be particularly pleased that the Government has remained committed to the universal offer of 15 free hours per week for three- and four-year-olds. This is a major contribution to the welfare of all young children.
However, there are some mixed messages that can leave both parents and providers of services for children confused about the direction and priority of current policy. While clearly committed to tackling child poverty, the Government's current approach seems to favour services that are designed to reduce the impact that growing up in poverty has on children. They seem less attracted to services and policies designed to reduce the number of children living in poverty.
Most of what is recommended by both Field and Allen is about the first aim: improving the capabilities of today's parents to ensure children get the best start. The Tickell review, while largely about what children experience in group settings, is intent on raising standards for today's children in order to improve their longer-term life chances.
None of them addresses the issue of reducing the number of children living in poverty now.
ADDRESSING UNEMPLOYMENT
Poverty reduction requires a complementary but different policy approach. It requires more emphasis on getting mothers and fathers into employment, supporting campaigns for a living wage, and reducing the costs of childcare. Some of the current proposals about reducing how much parents can claim through tax credits to pay for childcare may make it harder to ensure that parents are better off in work.
Employment doesn't guarantee freedom from poverty, and it's almost impossible for workless families with young children to avoid it. Entrenched disadvantage is highly correlated with long-term unemployment. Getting back into work after long spells out of the workforce or finding work with no experience of paid employment are difficult. Juggling work and family life is challenging for all families; for those on low incomes it's even harder.
The situation could become worse. The current wave of public sector job cuts will disproportionately affect women, many of whom will be lone mothers. More women out of work will reduce demand for childcare, putting at risk current providers, and make it likely that a new cohort of children will fall into poverty.
AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE FOR ALL
Helping workless parents find employment must be a priority, along with ensuring quality childcare is available and affordable, even for those on the minimum wage. Reducing the amount parents can claim for childcare through tax credits jeopardises affordability.
Investing in the quality of childcare means more than providing funding for training; working with young children must be made an attractive career option. Low pay and lack of career structures still typify the early years workforce. Improved pay and conditions will help to attract the calibre of staff that can deliver the quality our children need to benefit properly from their early years provision.
MORE MUST BE DONE
A two-pronged approach is vital: employment opportunities linked to affordable childcare will reduce child poverty now; high-quality childcare along with the kind of evidence-based parent support programmes recommended in the Allen and Field reviews will help to ensure a better future.
The Government has demonstrated its commitment to young children, and it understands the importance of the early years. Given current pressures, campaigners for early years provision should be pleased at the commitment shown so far. But much more needs to be done. Increasing the availability of evidence-based parenting programmes and more general parent support will make a difference, but helping the children of today escape poverty is also crucially important.
- Naomi Eisenstadt was the first director of the Sure Start unit and a former chief adviser on children's services.