无码天堂

By Rachel Lawler

Children, families and wellbeing minister Claire Coutinho has that the government plans to consult the early years sector before implementing funding increases and expanding the 30 hours offer.

Speaking at an evidence session for the Education Committee鈥檚 review of childcare and the early years, Coutinho said that the Department for Education (DfE) plans to launch a consultation on how funding for the expanded hours will be distributed to early years providers.

The DfE also plans to consult on its plans to increase early years funding rates for 2024/25, as well as plans for distributing funding for two-year-olds places and rates for 2023/24.

Commenting on the session, 无码天堂 CEO Neil Leitch said: "While it is positive to hear that the children's minister is eager to properly consult with the early years sector before the funding increases and the expansion of the 30-hour offer, given the government鈥檚 recent track record providers are right to be sceptical about what this will actually mean in practice.

鈥淭here鈥檚 no question that it would have been much more beneficial if they engaged and consulted with the sector before announcing the expansion in the Budget. If it had it would have realised the extreme pressure it was likely to place on a sector already under considerable strain.  

鈥淎nd, as the outcome of the ratios consultation shows, the government must not just listen to the sector鈥檚 concerns and still charge ahead with changes regardless, but make sure that any sector-specific plans reflect what is best for the sector and, importantly, the child. 

鈥淥f course, as the minister noted, it is right that the importance of the sector and its educators are valued and recognised, but words alone are simply not enough. It is vital, therefore, that in the coming weeks and months the early years sector plays a central role in shaping the expansion plans and we look forward to supporting this in anyway we can.鈥�