91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ

by Jess Gibson

The Labour party has announced it will create 100,000 additional early education and childcare places for children from nine months old, through 3,334 new nurseries as part of its plan to meet demand in under-served areas.  

This will be achieved by turning classrooms in existing primary schools into ‘school-based nurseries’, at an estimated cost of £40,000 per classroom. The funds required would – if Labour wins the July general election – come from a VAT levied on private schools. 

It is predicted that the number of nursery and primary school children in England will decrease over the next four years, freeing up space in primary school buildings to create the new nurseries. These would be set up in high-need areas lacking sufficient early years and childcare places. 

Under the plans, such nurseries could be run either by the primary schools themselves, or by local private and voluntary sector nursery providers. 

Commenting, Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years 91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ, said: â€œWith recent research showing that lower-income families and those living in more disadvantaged areas face the biggest challenges when it comes to accessing early years provision, it’s clear that whichever party comes into power next month, tackling so-called ‘childcare deserts’ and ensuring equity of access to early education must be a policy priority, and so Labour is right to focus on these important issues. 

“That said, while increasing school-based provision may form part of such plans, with the vast majority of early years places in England currently delivered by private and voluntary nurseries, pre-schools and childminding professionals, we’re clear that supporting this critical part of the sector must be central to any early years reform. 

“With an estimated 40,000 early educators required to deliver the additional places needed for the full early entitlement expansion, we continue to urge all political parties to focus on developing a clear and comprehensive workforce strategy to tackle the current staffing crisis. 

“Only this, alongside a commitment to long-term adequate funding, will ensure that our vital sector is sustainable not just today, but in the long term."