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Urgent Government action needed to make early years education fit for the 21st century – report

Families Policy & Politics Provision
A new report highlights the need for digital support for parents and families, and the importance of developing a ‘cohesive and aligned learning community that surrounds a child’.

‘The Role of the Family in Early Years Education’ report is published by The Children’s Alliance, which brings together individuals and organisations to work together to provide brighter futures for children throughout the UK.

Sponsored by online learning platform Babbu, it makes a number of specific ‘demands’ to ensure early years education is fit for the challenges of the 21st century.

They include for:

  • Government to provide funding for every region to have access to high-quality digital initiatives to enable families to encourage learning of their young children at home as well as in an early years setting.
  • A Government accredited and approved register (subject to annual review) of digital early learning platforms to be developed.
  • Government to establish a formal review of early years provision. This would tackle inequalities, gaps and anachronisms in the sector that impact upon children and families.
  • Childcare and early education provision to be under continuous scrutiny in relation to inflation and rising costs with an obligation for it to be addressed in all budget statements so outcomes for children may be achieved and value placed on the workforce.

‘The post 1945 concept of nuclear families wasn’t relevant at the time and is even less so in 2023’.

Tamsin Brewis, director of The Children’s Alliance, said, ‘The post 1945 historic concept of nuclear families with men at work and women at home “minding” their children wasn’t fully representative at the time.

‘It’s even less relevant in 2023 when there are many diverse communities throughout the UK, many different types of family, and ‘a job for life’ can’t be guaranteed for anybody.

‘What hasn’t changed though is that all families play a really essential role in their children’s education from the moment of birth and whatever their domestic and economic circumstances might be, all families should be able to access the support that they need to help their children to learn, thrive and live their best lives.’

Parenting expert, author and broadcaster Sue Atkins, added, ‘Currently, support for families is very fragmented across the UK and often fails to reach the very families most in need of it.

‘It is crucial to offer practical, non-judgemental advice, support and guidance to parents in the early years of their child’s life.'