Nursery World - Editor’s view - Don’t duck the challenge

The Government should not abandon its proposals on early years graduates because there is not an easy way forward

Robert Halfon MP and the Education Select Committee seem to be doing a good job of pressing the Department for Education for information about its progress on policy.

The letter sent last week by children and families minister Nadhim Zahawi to Mr Halfon contained news about elements of the early years workforce strategy that it has so far proved impossible to prise out of government.

After months of stalling on graduate workforce commitments, Mr Zahawi has confirmed the not-so-good news that these are being ditched – seemingly because they are a bit ‘challenging’.

The plan to do a feasibility study on growing the graduate workforce in disadvantaged areas has been abandoned, partly because the proportion of ‘good’ and ‘outstanding’ providers in disadvantaged areas now nearly matches that in the least deprived areas.

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