The announcement was also mired in confusion and frustration for both the early years and further education sectors, who were included in the initial announcement of £700 million and then removed.
The Department for Education sent out a revised statement just two hours later to say that those eligible were state primary and secondary schools, and not currently early years or 16-19 colleges.
It also reduced this part of the fund down to £650m to be shared in schools over the 2020/21 academic year.
While head teachers can decide how the £650m is spent, the Government said it expected that this would be used for small group tuition.
The £1 billion funding package, announced on Friday, includes £350m (initially £300m but later revised) for a one-year subsidised tutoring programme for up to two million disadvantaged children to run from September.
Sector leaders accused the Government of failing providers and young children, and said it 'beggars belief' that they have been excluded from the funding.
The snub for early years will be even more pronounced given that the catch-up announcement included a statement from the prime minister thanking childcare workers for their support during the pandemic.
Boris Johnson said, ‘I want to once again thank teachers, childcare workers and support staff for the brilliant work they have been doing throughout the pandemic.
‘This includes providing remote education for those not in school, as well as face-to-face education for vulnerable children and the children of critical workers.
‘This £1 billion catch-up package will help head teachers to provide extra support to children who have fallen behind while out of school.
‘I am determined to do everything I can to get all children back in school from September, and we will bring forward plans on how this will happen as soon as possible.'
Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance said, ‘Given that quality early years provision plays a pivotal role in children's long-term learning and development, it beggars belief that the early years sector has been excluded from this “catch-up” package.
‘Childcare settings across the country are working hard to provide the best possible support to those children who have missed several weeks of important early education. Why is it then, that once again, schools get much-needed financial support and early years providers don't?
‘The fact that this comes on the back of months of inadequate support for the early years sector makes this decision all the more galling. With one in four childcare providers expecting to go out of business within the year, the government simply cannot keep ignoring the financial pressures facing the sector.
‘For the vast majority of children, education starts long before they reach the school gates. It's time the government recognised this fact, and gave early years providers the respect and support that they deserve.’
The National Day Nurseries Association is asking early years providers to unite together and contact ministers and their MP.
NDNA chief executive Purnima Tanuku said, ‘Yet again the Government fails the early years sector and very young children who are most in need of support in their early development and learning.
‘Decision makers have demonstrated a total lack of consideration in the crucial role that early years practitioners play in a child’s life, for their families and the wider economy. Nurseries and other childcare providers have been the 4th emergency sector during this crisis, ensuring critical workers can do their vital jobs.
‘And now they face a serious financial crisis themselves. We have been lobbying the Treasury hard for a recovery and transformation package to support these providers to remain sustainable now and into the future.
‘Many nurseries have reopened to very few children and their businesses are just not financially viable. And yet, if they have to close, young children will be left with no support for their burgeoning development and parents will be unable to work.
‘The Government must now show that it takes a child’s early learning seriously and invest urgently to support young children and ensure nurseries are sustainable to support families before it’s too late.’
The Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years said it would be writing to the prime minister today to urgently ask him to reconsider excluding the sector from the extra funding.
PACEY chief executive, Liz Bayram, said, ‘Children under five need just as much support to catch up as children over five, especially children due to start Reception this September. With so much evidence that money spent on early education is money well spent in terms of all children’s progress in later life, especially disadvantaged children’s, PACEY despairs at the logic behind excluding early years from this vitally important catch-up programme.
‘Childminders, nurseries and pre-schools are struggling with the cost of new arrangements to support the children in their care. They have put up with years of Government underfunding of early education entitlements.
‘Now, following months of providing childcare for key workers and vulnerable children at a loss or, worse still, having to face closure, this announcement is evidence that early years is just an afterthought for this Government. These dedicated professionals were there when called upon by Government to risk life and livelihoods to support the national effort but that’s now quickly forgotten. We are writing today to the Prime Minister to urge him to quickly reconsider his decision.’
The Government also said its ambition was that all providers running holiday clubs and activities for children over the summer holiday will be able to open, if the science allows.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said, ‘We cannot afford for any of our children to lose out as a result of Covid-19. The scale of our response must match the scale of the challenge.
‘This package will make sure that every young person, no matter their age or where they live, gets the education, opportunities and outcomes they deserve, by spending it on measures proven to be effective, particularly for those who are most disadvantaged.
‘The plan will be delivered throughout the next academic year, bringing long term reform to the educational sector that will protect a generation of children from the effects of this pandemic.’
Guidance will be provided to the sector on how to implement the protective measures necessary to open safely, and to parents on how to minimise the spread of the virus if they choose to attend.
The Education Endowment Foundation has also published a guide to help school leaders and staff decide how to use this funding to best support their pupils and their outcomes.
Sir Peter Lampl, founder and chairman of the Sutton Trust and chairman of the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), said, ‘Despite the heroic efforts of schools, many pupils’ learning has suffered as a result of school closures. These children are drawn disproportionately from disadvantaged communities and need extensive support.
‘We are delighted that the Government is announcing a large sum today to benefit those pupils who need it the most. We are proud to support the tutoring programme. Extensive trials show that high-quality tuition is a cost-effective way to enable pupils to catch up.
‘Through a collaboration of organisations across the country, our aim is to make this tuition available to tens of thousands of primary and secondary school pupils. Our hope is that it becomes a powerful tool for teachers in the years to come.’
