麻花影视comments on new DfE floor space requirements consultation

Please find below a comment from the Early Years 麻花影视following the Department for Education's announcement of a  on Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) floor space requirements.

At present, section 3 of the EYFS for both group and school-based providers, and childminders states that providers are required to meet the following indoor spaces requirements:

  • 3.5m2 per child under two years
  • 2.5m2 per two-year-old
  • 2.3m2 per child aged between three and five years

The consultation is seeking views on whether or not 鈥榝ree-flow鈥 outdoor areas should be able to be included in floor space measurements for children aged two years and above.

Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said:

鈥淲hile we recognise that some settings may welcome the additional flexibility that would be created by this change, we remain concerned about the impact that such a policy could have on the quality of provision 鈥 and in particular, the risk that these reforms could result in overcrowding in some settings if the implementation, assuming these proposals go ahead, is not properly monitored.

鈥淲e鈥檙e clear that ensuring the safety and wellbeing of young children must always be at the heart of early years education and care. And yet, as we get closer to the final stage of the entitlement expansion, it appears that the need to create new places is constantly being prioritised over and above the need to ensure the consistent delivery of high-quality early years provision.

鈥淩ather than an endless stream of ad hoc, short-term policies, we need a clear and comprehensive early years strategy that puts quality, and what鈥檚 best for the child, at its centre. We鈥檙e clear that if the government wants to increase capacity in the early years in the long term 鈥 in a way that doesn鈥檛 put quality at risk 鈥 then tackling the ongoing recruitment and retention crisis, and ensuring that we have enough experienced, quality staff in settings, is where policymakers should be focusing. This means committing to provide the funding the sector needs to ensure staff are paid a fair wage, both now and in the future.鈥