The Government’s childcare policy is in a real mess. With broken promises to parents on Tax-Free Childcare and more questions than answers on its flagship 30-hour offer, ministers are hiding their heads in the sand.
I support any further investment in childcare and was pleased to see the Government ape our offer for increasing the amount of free childcare for families at the election. However, I knew at the time the Government would have a real problem with delivery because of the amount of money it allocated to its new 30-hour pledge for working parents, much less than we’d budgeted for our own 25-hour expansion. In its rush for headline-grabbing measures, it seems that good governance went out of the window.
I know many providers are concerned that more investment in supply-side funding is desperately needed and I hope the Government takes on board the views of the sector, who are worried about sustainability and affordability with the new offer. Childcare costs have rocketed 30 per cent since 2010 at a time when early years places have fallen. Some measures such as the childcare business grant have had limited success in encouraging new providers into the market, but with this expansion of free childcare for working parents and the introduction of Tax-Free Childcare the Government is further complicating an already overcomplicated system for parents and for providers too.
The first job of opposition is to scrutinise the Government’s plans and I’m delighted that my colleague Pat Glass MP is Labour’s new shadow childcare and early years minister. Pat has a wealth of experience, having worked in local authorities and for the Department for Education over the years before entering Parliament. Her tenacity on the education select committee means that the Government should be worried. Pat and I will hold ministers’ feet to the fire on their promises to parents and providers as the Commons scrutinises the Childcare Bill and beyond. We’ve already achieved some victories in the House of Lords, including a ‘sunrise clause’ whereby ministers cannot enact the Childcare Bill until they can say how they will pay for it and how the funding situation will be made sustainable. With the expansion not promised until 2017, there is plenty of time for the Government to satisfy Parliament on this point.
Getting childcare right is vital for children, their parents and the wider economy. High-quality childcare can help narrow the gap between disadvantaged children and their peers that is evident and growing even by the age of two. Flexible childcare can enable parents to work or extend their hours, helping mums and dads make ends meet, lifting families out of poverty and raising aspirations.
High-quality early years education and childcare is a touchstone issue for Labour; for the growing, productive economy we want to see, it is vital. It is also at the heart of our plans to give every child an excellent start and fulfil our values of social justice and equality for all.
Over the coming months and years, Pat and I will look to develop Labour policy on childcare with parents, professionals, providers and policymakers so that we can achieve the high-quality flexible system that works for children, families and the country.
Labour’s shadow education team
Pat Glass, shadow childcare and early years minister
Sharon Hodgson, shadow children’s minister, with responsibility for SEN, adoption and fostering, child protection and safeguarding
Nic Dakin, shadow schools minister
Gordon Marsden, shadow minister for higher education, further education and skills (joint with Department for Business, Innovation and Skills)
Lord (Mike) Watson, education minister in the House of Lords
