ÎÞÂëÌìÌÃ

by Jess Gibson

The Labour party is reportedly considering funding more primary school-based nursery places across England in a bid to increase capacity within the sector.

According to media reports, Labour aims to create thousands more nursery places via existing primary school settings. The party has charged former Ofsted head Sir David Bell with identifying ways of increasing the lack of provision.

Potential plans – arriving amid staffing and affordability concerns – aim to alleviate a widespread shortage of early education places, with more detailed policies slated for nearer the next general election.

Childcare and early education, and particularly the lack of provision and affordability, could become a major battleground at the next election, with Labour set to attack the Conservatives for what it says is a lack of workable solutions

Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the ÎÞÂëÌìÌÃ, said:

"Given that more than three-quarters of early years places in this country are delivered by private and voluntary nurseries, pre-schools and childminders, it’s disappointing that Labour continues to place such focus on primary school-based nursery provision.  

"This is especially true given that we are only months away from the expansion of the early entitlement offer to one- and two-year-olds, and that the vast majority of schools are unlikely to have the appropriate premises and resources, or staff with the necessary skills and experience, to deliver quality places to this age group. 

"If Labour is serious about creating more early years places, its priority should be ensuring that the whole sector is adequately funded, both today and in the future, and tackling the current staffing crisis as a matter of urgency.  

"The private and voluntary sector is, and will always be, an essential part of our early years system. Any political party that fails to recognise this is unlikely to be able to deliver the affordable, accessible, quality early years places that children and families need."