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By Shannon Pite

�������� chief executive Neil Leitch issued a damning indictment on the government’s approach to early education and care at this year’s �������� annual conference, accusing ministers of prioritising a desire to use more ‘free childcare’ as a means to boost the economy over and above the needs of young children.

The conference, Families at the Heart, took place virtually at 6pm on Thursday 15 June 2023.

In his speech, Neil criticised the government’s approach to the planned extension of the 30-hours offer to one- and two-year-olds, arguing that the proposals have “absolutely nothing to do with supporting early learning or child development or improving children’s life chances”. 

Referencing the Chancellor’s announcement of the plans during the Spring Budget earlier this year, he said: 

“For all the talk of the mums who can go back to work as a result of the new offer, and the boost it will give to the economy, there was absolutely no mention of quality. No mention of good practice. No mention of the standard of care and education that these children should be receiving. And those charged with the stewardship of our children’s education and care, stood back, rolled over and allowed our children to become numbers on a Treasury spreadsheet.”

Referencing his own challenging childhood, Neil also issued a rallying cry to the early years workforce, highlighting the huge support that providers offer to families – and particularly those in need, saying:

“You are the ones who spot when a child comes into your setting a little quieter than normal, or with clothes that don’t fit quite as they should. You recognise that a child’s speech, or social interactions, aren’t developing as you might expect. You notice that something isn’t quite right at pick-up, and you take action … not only to help the child, but to support the family as well. What you are doing every day, in the most challenging of circumstances, is nothing short of extraordinary.

“So never, ever let anyone tell you that all you do is ‘look after’ children. Or that your value is defined by the hourly rate you get paid by government … or the one-word label placed on you by Ofsted. Take it from someone who knows: what you give to families, and the kindness you show them, is worth its weight in gold.”

The conference also featured keynote speeches from Lord John Bird MBE, founder and editor-in-chief of the Big Issue, and Beverley Barnett-Jones MBE, Associate Director (Practice and Impact), Nuffield Family Justice Observatory and member of the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood expert advisory group, who both raised the importance of the role of early years in helping children and families in need.