Please find below a statement from Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, on the expansion of early years funded entitlements.

Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said:

“With the entitlement expansion to be fully rolled out by Monday 1 September, the government will be responsible for an estimated 80% of the early years sector’s income – meaning it’s more critical than ever that early years funding rates actually cover the cost of delivering places.

“And yet, despite the positive government rhetoric on the importance of the early years, the harsh reality is that under current levels of funding – particularly given the huge impact of national insurance increases –  many providers will struggle to keep their doors open in the coming year, while those that do are likely to struggle to deliver the affordable, flexible service that families need.

“If the rollout of the early entitlement expansion is to truly succeed, it needs to deliver a system where families can access the places they want, when and where they want them, and where consistently high-quality care and education is delivered by a stable, experienced workforce. But this simply isn’t possible without adequate investment.

“As such, alongside the longer-term implementation of the Best Start in Life strategy, we continue to urge the government to take urgent action to tackle the financial challenges facing the sector now. The stakes have never been higher.”