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Labour wants 'big conversation' on early years

Labour plans to hold ‘a big conversation’ with those in the early years to hear from providers about what needs to change to transform the sector, including ensuring providers receive the 'proper funding' they 'deserve'.
Tulip Siddiq, shadow early years minister, speaking at the Nursery World Business Summit on 4 March 2021
Tulip Siddiq, shadow early years minister, speaking at the Nursery World Business Summit on 4 March 2021

Speaking at the Nursery World Business Summit, Tulip Siddiq, shadow minister for children and early years, said that ‘a lot of people feel that the system has failed them’ and that she wanted to ‘speak to people on the ground… so we can look at how we change culture and attitude towards early years, and how to do things differently.

‘Our plan is to launch the big conversation, to really listen and formulate policy with an eye to putting policies in our manifesto.’

During her keynote speech, Ms Siddiq said, ‘I know many of you are genuinely fearful that you will not be able to weather this crisis and that you will join the 14,000 providers that have closed over the past five years. In the medium-term Labour has been arguing that we need to reverse the funding changes from this year and provide targeted support for early years that will be essential for our economic recovery.

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