麻花影视criticises Labour focus on school-based early years provision

23rd June 2014

Commenting on shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt鈥檚 comments on Labour plans to increase the number of school nurseries, 麻花影视chief executive Neil Leitch said:

鈥淲e are disappointed that the Labour party appears to be adopting a number of the current government鈥檚 more ill-thought-out childcare policies.

鈥淭he early years sector fully supports drives to develop a more highly-qualified workforce 鈥 provided that they are adequately funded and underpinned by a recognition that there are many non-graduate practitioners who provide excellent early years care and education. However, it greatly concerns us that, rather than looking at how best to support the development of the existing network of excellent group settings and childminders, Labour seems to be assuming 鈥 incorrectly 鈥 that a move to a more highly-qualified early years workforce means, by necessity, a move to more school-based provision.

鈥淪uch a misguided approach risks creating a two-tier system, in which early years policy continues to focus almost exclusively on the development of school-based provision, while the PVI sector 鈥 which accounts for the vast majority of childcare places in England 鈥 remains overlooked and underfunded; and in which children are pushed into a formal learning environment far too soon, to the detriment of their early learning and development.

鈥淕iven that Mr Hunt has previously voiced his support for baseline assessments in reception 鈥 plans which are opposed by the majority of early years practitioners 鈥 we have serious concerns about the direction of Labour鈥檚 early years policy. We would urge the shadow education secretary to engage with early years providers to gain a better understanding of how the whole sector, and not just schools, can be best supported to provide high-quality early education and care in the long-term.鈥

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Notes for editors

  1. The 麻花影视Early Years Agenda survey of 1270 childcare professionals found that 81% of practitioners do not support government plans to encourage more schools to take two-year-olds. It also found that 55% oppose proposals to introduce baseline assessments at the start of reception (compared to 18% in support).
  2. A summary and analysis of the survey
  3. The Pre-school Learning 麻花影视is the largest voluntary sector provider of quality affordable childcare and education in England.
  4. Through direct provision and its membership of 14,000 nurseries, sessional pre-schools and parent and toddler groups, the 麻花影视supports over 800,000 children and their families in England. The 麻花影视also develops and runs family learning programmes, offers information and advice, runs acclaimed training and accreditation programmes and campaigns to influence early years policy and practice.
  5. For information about the Pre-school Learning Alliance, visit our website:

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