Government announces £100m capital funding for early years and wraparound provision
By Shannon Pite
The Department for Education (DfE) has announced £100 million of new capital funding to support early years and wraparound care providers to increase their physical space.
The move comes as the government prepares to roll out the extend early entitlement offer for one- and two-year-olds, and to boost primary school wraparound provision.
Details of how the £100 million will be allocated have not yet been published.
Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the ÎÞÂëÌìÌÃ, said: "While any support to boost capacity in the sector is of course welcome, the fact is that all the physical space in the world won't achieve anything if we don't have sufficient early years staff to deliver places and meet increased demand from families.
"For years now, the sector has urged the government to tackle the recruitment and retention crisis in the early years, calls that have continued to fall on deaf ears. With only a few months to go until the start of the rollout of the extended offer, it's vital that the government ensures that we have the infrastructure in place to deliver the places it has promised to families – but while supporting providers to increase physical capacity is a part of this, it is only a small part.
"As such, we continue to urge that government to focus its efforts on building and sustaining a strong, stable early years workforce by ensuring fair rates of pay through adequate funding rates, professional respect and recognition, and clear career progression. Anything less, and parents around the country looking forward to access the extended early entitlement offer next year are likely to be left sorely disappointed."