Please find below a comment from Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, on the latest New Economics Foundation report, which shows that:

• Richer households in England will be eight times more likely to benefit from the government’s expanded programme of funded childcare hours
• Only 11% of the poorest households will be eligible for the full expanded hours, while 85% of the richest households will be able to benefit

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

“Given that children from more disadvantaged backgrounds stand to gain the most from access to high-quality early years provision, it is incredibly concerning to see just how skewed the current entitlement offers are in favour of wealthier families.

“We continue to support the principle of genuinely free, high-quality care and early education for every child – but if, as the evidence suggests, constraints on government finances make this promise unachievable, then it is only sensible to explore alternative approaches, particularly those that prioritise equity and ensure that every child, regardless of background, can access the early education they deserve. This must be a focus of any government genuinely committed to improving life chances and tackling disadvantage through its Opportunity Mission.

“Ultimately, we need a system where access to early years provision does not depend on family income, location, or ability to pay. The government must ensure that its policies support those children and families who stand to benefit the most, not just those who find it easiest to access the offer as it stands.”