Written by the EYA’s chief executive, Neil Leitch, the letter warns that the delay in publishing the funding rates for the new one and two-year-old offers is putting the entire policy at risk as it is ‘near impossible’ for settings to plan for the extended 30 hours.
With no response from the Government to its consultation on the new early entitlement offers despite having closed in September, and just five months to go until the first phase of the new policy is rolled out, Leitch argues that the current situation is ‘not acceptable’ for providers.
The letter states, ‘Final local authority rates for the new offers have still not been published, further delaying the process of confirming rates for frontline providers. This is making it near-impossible for settings to budget or plan for this policy – or in some cases, make a decision on whether they will opt into the schemes at all.
‘This is a flagship Government policy that has been heavily promoted, and expectations among families are high. Many providers are receiving a high volume of inquiries from parents keen to register their children for the new offers – parents who are then incredibly frustrated when settings explain that they are unable to commit to offering places.
‘What the Government is asking of providers is no small thing: to deliver one of the biggest expansions the sector has seen in the midst of a recruitment and retention crisis and on the back of years of underfunding. The very least ministers could do is provide the basic information needed to help providers understand if it is possible for them to do so.’
He adds, ‘The current situation is simply not acceptable. As such, I urge the Department for Education and Treasury colleagues to ensure that this information is provided to the sector without further delay.’