麻花影视criticises government inaction after Ofsted data reveals closure of 5,400 early years settings in the last year

The Early Years 麻花影视has issued a comment in response to Ofsted sector statistics which included the number of Ofsted-registered early years providers on 31 August 2022. The data, which can be read  highlighted the following: 

  • In the period there 65,600 childcare providers registered with Ofsted, a decrease of 5,400 since 31 August 2021. 

  • Overall, 110 local authorities have seen a fall in places between August 2021 and August 2022.  

  • In total, 26 local authorities have seen a fall in places of more than 5% during the same period. 

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

鈥淲hat exactly is it going to take for the government to take action on the worsening crisis in our sector?  

鈥淭he fact that we have lost 5,400 providers in just 12 months is a direct consequence of government inaction. Time and time again we have urged ministers to commit to the funding that the early years needs to survive 鈥 and now the sector is hurtling towards a catastrophe. 

鈥淭he government continues to claim that because early years places remain comparatively stable on a national basis, all is fine 鈥 but our own analysis of today鈥檚 statistics reveal that in the last year alone, 110 local authorities have seen a fall in the number of places available to families, with 26 seeing declines of more than 5%. What use is it to parents to be told that there are sufficient early years places across the country if there aren鈥檛 enough in their local area? 

鈥淭he government had the opportunity to tackle this crisis at the recent Autumn Statement 鈥 but despite managing to somehow find an extra 拢2.3bn for schools, opted to completely ignore the early years. If this approach continues, there is absolutely no doubt we will continue to see further closures on an ever-increasing scale. 

鈥淔or providers to have any chance of remaining sustainable in the long term, the government must, as a matter of urgency, put forward a holistic, long-term plan to properly fund the early years. The sector simply won鈥檛 survive anything less.鈥