麻花影视responds to research highlighting the economic impact of high early years costs

The Early Years 麻花影视has issued a comment following the publication of the Centre for Progressive Policy's report-, which found that a "lack of afforfable, accessible childcare is costing the economy billions in lost earnings and holding back much-needed labour supply."

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

鈥淭he fact that the Centre for Progressive Policy鈥檚 research shows that the high cost of early education and childcare is holding back the economy comes as little surprise.  

鈥淭he early years is a sector which, year after year, has suffered from severe underfunding and continually falls to the bottom of the government鈥檚 priority list. Providers across the country are doing their best to provide accessible, high-quality and affordable care and education 鈥 but the fact is that current levels of sector funding don鈥檛 go anywhere near far enough. As a result, settings are left with no choice but to increase fees just to stay afloat.  

鈥淚t is little wonder, therefore, that so many parents, and particularly mothers, are being priced out of the workforce 鈥 and with cost pressures on nurseries, pre-school and childminding settings continuing to rise, the situation is only going to get worse, unless ministers take urgent action. 

"Investment in the early years is an investment in the economy. The sooner the government recognises this, the better it will be for the providers, families and society as a whole.鈥