Early years organisations have called for the new Prime Minister to scrap controversial plans to deregulate childcare, and relax staff to child ratios in early years settings.
Sunak was elected by MPs as leader of the Conservative Party yesterday, and has now become the UK’s first Prime Minister of colour and the first Hindu prime minister.
Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said, ‘As Mr Sunak prepares for the many challenges awaiting him as Prime Minister, it’s absolutely vital that tackling the ongoing early years crisis in this country is made a top priority.
‘Quality early education and childcare is fundamental to any functioning society, and particularly at a time of economic crisis: our vital sector not only supports children to get the best possible start in life, but also ensures that parents across the country are able to work and contribute to our national economy.
‘However, years of neglect and, more specifically, underfunding have left us in an untenable situation where costs are continuing to spiral for parents while talented education professionals, sick of being overworked and underpaid, are abandoning the sector in their droves.
‘Rather [than] wasting any more time on a fruitless “deregulation” agenda that would have only exacerbated an already-dire situation, we need a clear, comprehensive long-term early years strategy from government that actually supports the delivery of affordable, sustainable, high-quality care and education.
‘As such, we urge Mr Sunak to scrap government plans to relax ratios in early years settings, and instead commit to the substantial investment needed to ensure the sector cannot just survive, but thrive in the years to come.’
National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) director of policy and communications, Jonathan Broadbery, said, 'As Chancellor, Rishi Sunak supported businesses and employees through the pandemic, recognised the importance of critical workers and listened to the sector by giving nurseries business rates relief. He becomes prime minister now at an equally crucial time for the early years sector, facing funding, costs and workforce crises. These all need equally bold and ambitious approaches.
'Everyone in the sector knows how much the first five years count when it comes to our youngest children. We need to see a clear plan from the heart of Government that recognises this and builds for the future. At the same time, we have low unemployment and record vacancies across all sectors and supporting working families will be vital. Our economy cannot work without high-quality childcare and the sector cannot work without the dedicated workforce that put so much into giving our children the best start in life.
'Underfunding has to be addressed and we need to see energy support continue for our critical sector beyond the cliff-edge of next April. Providers face rising costs across the board and funding rates that were inadequate before the cost of living crisis hit. The new Prime Minister should also get Ministers to review the VAT and unfair business rates burdens on the sector, which is a crucial part of the education system.
'Our nurseries do amazing and important work every day, early education and care needs investment and a comprehensive plan for the future that will help providers operate to the high standards they want to, not ongoing underfunding and tinkering around the edges.'
Alison Garnham, chief executive of the Child Poverty Action Group, urged Sunak to honour the pledge he made in his former post as chancellor, which was to uprate benefits with inflation.
‘If integrity is key, the new PM must keep his word and uprate benefits with inflation from April. If the pledge isn’t honoured, we won’t be the country the PM wants where the next generation has more than the last, we’ll be a country of soaring child poverty.’
Action for Children also urged Sunak to prioritise the 3.9 million children who are living in poverty, and stand by his promise to keep benefits in line with inflation.
Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said, ‘This must be a re-set moment for the 4 million children already in poverty and others who are perilously close to it. Lifting those kids from poverty by ensuring families have realistic social security support must be a top priority for the new Government.
‘The incoming Prime Minister needs to look with fresh eyes at the education sector and recognise the strains it has been under for far too long. This requires policy and funding shifts that will benefit schools, staff, parents and pupils alike. It is surely in everyone's interests to bring school funding into the 2020s and reward teachers and support staff with the real-terms above inflation pay rise they have deserved for far too long.’
First comments as Conservative leader
Screengrab taken from BBC News
Rishi Sunak gave a short speech this afternoon – his first as the new Conservative leader and the next prime minister of the UK.
He paid tribute to his predecessor Liz Truss, and said he was humbled to have been elected leader of the Conservative and Unionist party. He said it was the greatest privilege of his life 'to be able to serve the party I love and give back to the country I owe so much to'.
He continued, 'But there is no doubt we face a profound economic challenge. We now need stability and unity. And I will make it my utmost priority to bring our party and our country together. Because that is the only way we will overcome the challenges we face and build a better, more prosperous future for our children and our grandchildren.
'I pledge that I will serve you with integrity and humility, and I will work day in, day out, to deliver for the British people.'
