Amid all the brouhaha around the funding and logistical problems of the expanded childcare offer, it was good to hear LEYF’s June O’Sullivan offer a more philosophical perspective on Radio Four’s Woman’s Hour this week. June, who was interviewed along with the Early Years Alliance’s Neil Leitch, refocused the discussion by asking, quite simply, what do we want for small children? Somehow this most important of questions has been lost in the conversation around the expansion of state-funded childcare. With this set to be extended to children as young as nine months, it seems irresponsible to say the least.
There has long been a big debate around quality provision – what it looks like, and how it can be delivered – and this urgently needs to be reframed within the context of Government policy. And surely any ‘ambition’ associated with extending childcare should be measured on the basis of its ability to benefit all children? It is a worrying sign of the times that current policy does not even pay lip service to these ideas.
As the Sutton Trust’s latest policy briefing highlights, the expanded childcare offer is likely to deepen inequalities. Families in the bottom third of earnings will be hugely disadvantaged when it comes to qualifying for all age places, with more affluent families taking the big majority.
As our analysis strongly suggests, the financial and practical problems facing providers is in danger of causing the whole expanded childcare scheme to unravel. But these challenges also continue to distract from any focus on what a ‘free’ place means for children themselves. Which is why I’m really looking forward to our big debate on quality provision at the Business Summit on 2 February. This is happening under the umbrella of the Nursery World Show 2024 and I hope to see you there.