Speaking at the Labour Party’s Annual Conference today (Wednesday 28 September) Phillipson will announce that a Labour Government would introduce fully funded breakfast clubs for every primary school in England.
Labour said that providing breakfast clubs for all children would be the first step towards supporting families from the end of parental leave to the end of primary school.
New data from Labour suggests at least 800,000 children do not have access to early morning provision – a fifth of schoolchildren in England – and those that do often face barriers because of costs or limits on numbers able to access the breakfast clubs.
A 2017 survey of parents by Kellogg’s found that among those currently using breakfast clubs over a quarter (27 per cent) said that one parent would have to give-up work without this support.
A quarter of parents working in 'top level' professional roles reported that they needed breakfast clubs to help juggle childcare, with nearly a third of public sector managers and office workers using the clubs in order to get to work on time.
The shadow education secretary will tell the Labour party conference in Liverpool, ‘The evidence couldn’t be clearer: gaps in learning development, gaps in opportunities, open up early, so our solutions must start early too.
‘We need a fresh vision of that education. One that looks to the future, not the past.
‘Labour will build a modern childcare system. One that supports families from the end of parental leave through to the end of primary school.
‘As the first step on that road, we will introduce breakfast clubs for every primary school child in England, driving up standards in maths, reading, and writing, and giving mams and dads choices.’
In an interview with The Guardian on Wednesday, ahead of her conference speech, the shadow education secretary also said that Labour’s childcare package over the coming year would include a workforce plan for the sector.
‘Those who work in our childcare settings are often not properly supported, don’t have access to professional development and are among the most poorly paid workers in our society,' she said. 'But they’re doing the most important jobs in terms of giving our children the best possible start in life.
‘Teachers couldn’t do their job without the amazing school support staff that provide that and they’ll be a big part of making sure we can deliver those breakfast clubs in every school.’
Phillipson will say that Labour’s plan would enable parents to work, as well as strengthening children’s development, driving up standards in reading, writing and maths, contrasting this with the Conservatives’ failure to close the education attainment gap and support parents with young children to continue working the jobs and hours they choose.
The ‘landmark’ new approach to childcare would be funded from the revenues raised by restoring the 45p top rate of income tax rate for the wealthiest, which Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng scrapped in the mini-budget on Friday.
The shadow education secretary will tell delegates that ‘life should not come down to luck’, drawing on her own story of growing up in a single parent family ‘where education was encouraged’, but under the Conservatives, ‘classes were too big, books too few, money short and opportunities rare.’
Phillipson said that there was a new understanding of how lack of investment in childcare was holding back growth, as well as how it would benefit child development and parents’ careers and wellbeing.
‘The cost of living crisis has particularly exposed the really difficult choices that parents are facing right now. It is usually women, sadly, who end up giving up work because the childcare that they need isn’t available, and that has to change.’
She also said that Labour would oppose the plan to change staff to child ratios in early years, because they 'will drive down quality, will not lead to a reduction in costs for parents, and it’s not what parents want.'
Phillipson said the party’s offer by the time of the election would mean ‘thinking very differently about childcare … it’s a really important part of the support we give to families and how we grow the economy. This is the first step towards the modern childcare system we need to see.’
Labour said that Phillipson will also pledge to build the most ambitious school improvement programme for a generation to help children excel in sciences and maths, widening access to arts, music and drama and building a modern careers advice and work experience system paid for by ending tax breaks for private schools.
In response, on Twitter, David Wright, who was awarded Nursery World’s Lifetime Achievement Award on Saturday, said, ‘It would really help if the rhetoric can be changed to discuss Early Years teaching & education with respect to the workforce, as opposed to “childcare”.’
The news of Labour’s plans has been welcomed by the early years and childcare sector, but organisations stressed the need for a long-term sustainable plan for funding.
Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said, ‘Labour’s plans to introduce breakfast clubs for every primary school in England will make a real difference to parents with school-aged children trying to balance their careers and their childcare needs, as well as ensuring that no children start the school day hungry, and so we warmly welcome this proposal.
‘That said, if Labour is truly committed to transforming the childcare landscape in this country, plans to address the severe challenges that nurseries, pre-schools and childminders are facing must also be central to this drive.
‘Years of underfunding and poor policymaking has left the early years facing a severe recruitment and retention crisis, and mass setting closures – with around 4,000 providers shutting in the last year alone – leaving children unable to access vital early education and parents struggling to find the affordable, reliable childcare they need.
‘As such, any plan to solve the “childcare crisis” must start with the early years and must include a long-term plan for the sector based on realistic, sustainable funding.’
Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association, said, ‘We welcome Labour’s announcement today which is the first move towards an overhaul of the childcare and early years sector which NDNA has been calling for.
‘The modern world of work needs a modern, affordable, accessible childcare system that is properly funded and can make all the difference to children and their families. It opens up opportunities to even the most disadvantaged and is key to reducing the attainment gap.
‘Many nurseries across the UK offer high quality wraparound care to schoolchildren including breakfast clubs and after school care. However, nurseries are already suffering from government underfunding for funded childcare places. Any extension to the existing policy must be thoroughly costed, with sufficient investment behind it and with close involvement of the sector.’
Chief executive of the Child Poverty Action Group, Alison Garnham, said, ‘Universal breakfast clubs in primary schools would be a breakthrough kids and parents need – boosting children’s learning and well-being and helping parents combine jobs with family life.
‘With four million children already in poverty and millions of parents struggling to stay afloat, now is the time to make this happen for families. We hope there is more to come - universal before-and after-school activities for kids of all ages would make a crucial difference.’
Unison general secretary Christina McAnea,said, 'Everyone deserves the very best start in life. Free breakfast clubs will ensure the best start to every single school day. Pupils learn so much more when they’re not going hungry.
'The additional childcare offered by the clubs will make life easier for hard-pressed working families.
'A modern childcare system, with proper pay for staff, is at the heart of any decent society.'
Natalie Perera, chief executive of the Education Policy Institute, said there was evidence that extended school activities could have a positive effect on young people's attainment and wider benefits still for those from disadvantaged families.
'With increasing child poverty, breakfast clubs in particular can provide a much-needed source of nutrition for young children as well as support for families with the cost of living.
'In developing this policy, the Labour Party must ensure that it is fully funded and does not contribute to increased workloads for teachers. At a time when schools are facing increasing cost pressures and difficulties recruiting and retaining staff, new policies should not exacerbate those challenges.'
