麻花影视

 

The research behind the government鈥檚 early years funding review has been criticised by the 麻花影视following its release through the Freedom of Information Act.

 

The research was carried out by Deloitte on behalf of the Department for Education and was used, alongside departmental studies from 2012/2013, to inform the 2015 Cost of Childcare report. This report has been used to help shape the new early years funding rates, due to come into effect in April.

 

The data has been released after the Alliance鈥檚 initial request, filed more than a year ago, was twice refused and eventually upheld by the Information Commissioner鈥檚 Office. It shows a survey questionnaire sent out by Deloitte, responses and a summary. It can be viewed on the 麻花影视website at:

 

The 麻花影视argues that this demonstrates that the research was based on a 鈥渧ery small, non-random sample of providers鈥� who were asked broad and poorly worded questions. The respondents were asked, for example, to estimate their delivery costs, without any guidance on what to include in the total.

 

Neil Leitch, chief executive at the Alliance, commented: 鈥淗ow can the government, in all good conscience, gamble the future of the early years sector on such flimsy data? How can it defend its decision to freeze funding rates 鈥� with no formal review 鈥� for the next three years, when the basis for current funding is so weak? This is simply not an acceptable approach to policy-making.鈥�