The coalition, convened by charitable foundation Kindred2, has identified a series of what it is calling ‘practical and affordable options' for improved early years funding in England, published within an analysis by Frontier Economics.
Members of the coalition include Early Education and nursery groups LEYF and Ark Start.
The analysis, which has been published ahead of the chancellor’s Budget on Thursday (17 November), is based on current Government spending on childcare - over £5bn a year - but the modelling shows how ‘significant rebalancing’ could better support working families and improve outcomes for children, including those that are disadvantaged.
It is supported by Leeds Beckett University, The International Montessori Institute, Nesta, Save the Children, The Sutton Trust and HFL Education.
The coalition presents four new, ‘simplified’ options for funding based on the Department for Education’s assessment of the breakeven costs of provision, they are:
- Universal childcare from age two – costing £4.08bn – to support school readiness. All children would be entitled to 15 hours of education. Working parents would pay for additional hours - substituting the additional 15 hours at age 3 for 15 hours at age 2. This policy would benefit 1.39m children rather than 1.03m plus 35 per cent under the current system
- A disadvantaged premium rate paid for disadvantaged children – costing £4.54bn. This would apply for families earning under £23k. The aim of the policy would be to incentivise providers to work in the most disadvantaged communities.
- Capping nursery fees with no hidden ‘extras’ for parents to pay for.
- 30 hours free childcare for all from age one, over 48 weeks a year, rather than the current 38 – costing £23.2bn. This would support parents to ‘grow’ the workforce.
- Bring funding in line with DfE breakeven costings to increase affordability for parents.
It also mentions ensuring funding rates are viable so providers can ‘survive solely’ offering Government funded entitlements.
‘Much more can be done to help make early years education more affordable and accessible.’
Felicity Gillespie, director of Kindred2. ,said, ‘The work we've commissioned shows that much more can be done to help make early years education more affordable and more accessible by simply rebalancing the funding that already exists. If we want to tackle the persistent attainment gaps in education, if we want to improve life chances, then we can start by making some of the relatively simple changes we are proposing.’
Beatrice Merrick, chief executive, Early Education, commented, ‘It’s time for policymakers to stop tinkering around the edges of the early education and childcare system, and go back to core principles to create a system which will deliver for children, parents and society as a whole.
‘An increase in funding is needed across the board, but especially targeted at the least advantaged children, to ensure that the quality of provision is high enough to deliver its potential impact on children’s outcomes. Beyond this, the system needs to be affordable and accessible for all working parents, with support targeted at those earning least. Our proposals show that there are options which move us quickly in the right direction to achieving these goals as part of a much-needed long-term strategy for the early years.’
- The report is available here
