In 2014 all candidates taking the Early Years Educator qualification were told they needed a minimum GCSE grade C in maths and English. This rule, which was scrapped three years later, is often blamed for exacerbating a recruitment crisis in the early years sector. Historical low pay, low prestige and lack of progression had already made things difficult.
At the same time as the GCSE controversy came the doubling of the funded entitlements for two-year-olds to the 40 per cent most disadvantaged children, followed three years later by the 30 hours entitlement for three- and four-year olds.
Also on the policy menu over the past few years has been the introduction of a new funding formula and the national living wage.
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