Support for childcare and the early years

Education Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 15 Dec 2022 Closed: 23 Nov 2023 Parliament page
The Education Committee has launched an inquiry into support for childcare and the early years. The inquiry will examine how easy to navigate the current childcare system is for parents and carers, and whether current childcare entitlements are providing families with affordable and flexible childcare. The Committee will assess the … Read more
24 Recommendations
8 Conclusions
1 Report
5 Oral sessions
1 Letter
5 Events
Activity timeline 13 events
25 Oct
2023
Correspondence
17 Oct
2023
Report published
26 Jul
2023
Report published
9 May
2023
Oral evidence
9 May
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
18 Apr
2023
Oral evidence
18 Apr
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
21 Mar
2023
Oral evidence
21 Mar
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
21 Feb
2023
Oral evidence
21 Feb
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
31 Jan
2023
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 5 sessions
9 May 2023
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Support for childcare and the early years
Claire Coutinho · Department for Education Susie Owen · Department for Education
18 Apr 2023
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Support for childcare and the early years
Adam Hawksbee · Onward Christine Farquharson · Institute for Fiscal Studies Dr Tammy Campbell · Education Policy Institute Iain Mansfield · Policy Exchange Professor Birgitta Rabe · Institute for Social and Economic Success Professor Eva Lloyd · International Centre for the Study of the Mixed Economy of Childcare, University of East London
21 Mar 2023
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Support for childcare and the early years
Jane Harris · Speech and Language UK Joeli Brearley · Pregnant Then Screwed Jolanta Lasota · Ambitious about Autism Mary Mulvey-Oates · Contact Mrs Anne Fennell · Mothers at Home Matter Victoria Benson · Gingerbread
21 Feb 2023
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Support for childcare and the early years
Dr Julian Grenier CBE · Sheringham Nursery School and Children's Centre, East London Emma Gardner · Early Years and Childcare, Spring by Action for Children Gemma Rolstone · Puffins Childcare, Devon Kara Jewell · Sparkle Lodge Early Years, Portsmouth Professor Celia Greenway · University of Birmingham
31 Jan 2023
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Support for childcare and the early years
Helen Donohoe · PACEY (Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years) Laura Barbour · The Sutton Trust Megan Jarvie · Coram Family and Childcare Neil Leitch OBE · Early Years Alliance
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fifth Report - Support for childcare and the early years HC 969 26 Jul 2023 32 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
8 results
Clear
5 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Fifth Report - Support for childca…
Consider greater ring-fencing of Early Years block for local authority Dedicated Schools Grants
We recommend the Government consider the case for greater ring-fencing of the Early Years block of each local authority’s Dedicated Schools Grant to ensure that more is passed on to the early years providers who are delivering the funded hours … Read more
Government Response
The government commits to increasing the minimum pass-through rate for early years funding to 97% once the new entitlements are sufficiently rolled out. They currently require local authorities to pass on at least 95% of funding and are consulting on setting this rate on individual funding streams for 2024-25.
Department for Education
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9 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Fifth Report - Support for childca…
Remove barriers and introduce incentives to grow the childminder market
We recommend the Government work to remove or reduce the barriers preventing childminders setting up or continuing in businesses and consider developing more incentives to grow this market. It could do this, for example, by a) Allowing childminders to work … Read more
Government Response
The government commits to providing a new childminder start-up grant fund of up to £7.2 million over two years, offering £1200 for agency-registered and £600 for Ofsted-registered childminders. It has also launched a consultation exploring further flexibilities, workforce support, and a new childminder-specific EYFS framework, but does not commit to all specific examples listed.
Department for Education
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11 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Fifth Report - Support for childca…
Streamline funded hours entitlement system and reduce eligibility reconfirmation to annually
We recommend that the funded hours entitlement system be made more streamlined. For example, parents should be able to access childcare as soon as they receive an 74 Support for childcare and the early years eligibility code. The requirement for … Read more
Government Response
DfE is exploring options for simplifying the application process and improving the user experience for parents accessing childcare entitlements and will review the frequency of reconfirmation alongside the roll out of the new entitlements.
Department for Education
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16 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Fifth Report - Support for childca…
Conduct fundamental review of tax-free childcare and launch public awareness campaign
The Government must do much more to ensure the support available for tax-free childcare is better understood and easier to access. We recommend HM Treasury conduct a fundamental review of tax-free Childcare with a view to making it simpler and … Read more
Government Response
The government has committed an additional £1.2 million to an ongoing Childcare Choices marketing campaign to improve awareness of existing support. However, they do not commit to a fundamental review of Tax-Free Childcare to simplify its use, as recommended.
Department for Education
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17 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Fifth Report - Support for childca…
Expand national Family Hub rollout, commit to longer-term funding, and boost specific SEND family support.
We recommend the Government expand the Family Hub model and commit to longer-term funding. We would like to see a national rollout of family hubs at the earliest possible opportunity. In particular, the £50m fund for ‘Parenting Support’ and the … Read more
Government Response
The government is investing £300 million to enable 75 local authorities to create family hubs, including £50 million for parenting support, which partially addresses the call for expansion and funding without committing to a national rollout or specific fund increases.
Department for Education
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25 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Fifth Report - Support for childca…
Engage Local Authorities to provide affordable and flexible mandatory training for early years professionals.
We recommend the Government engage with Local Authorities and seek to address the cost of mandatory training required by early years professionals, such as paediatric first aid and safeguarding courses. Local Authorities should work towards providing 76 Support for childcare … Read more
Government Response
The government commits to engaging with local authorities to assess the availability, accessibility, and associated costs of mandatory safeguarding and welfare training for early years professionals, but does not commit to providing free or heavily reduced training or greater timing flexibility.
Department for Education
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26 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Fifth Report - Support for childca…
Develop a comprehensive Early Years Strategy, expanding the Early Career Framework and promoting National Professional Qualifications.
We recommend the Government ensure that the early years Sector is seen to be, and feels itself to be, a valued profession. To achieve this, we recommend the Government develop a comprehensive Early Years Strategy with a strong focus on … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the importance of workforce development and engagement but states there are currently no plans to expand the Early Career Framework to the early years sector. However, it is promoting and fully funding the National Professional Qualification in Early Years Leadership (NPQEYL), working to encourage take-up in PVI settings, and continues to engage with the sector.
Department for Education
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32 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Fifth Report - Support for childca…
Increase Early Years Pupil Premium and widen eligibility for low-income children needing SEND support.
We recommend the Government increase the Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) to match that in primary schools and widen the eligibility criteria so that more children from very low income families can access much needed extra support for any special … Read more
Government Response
The government is proposing to extend EYPP eligibility by age to all children from 9 months to 4 years old from April 2024, if they meet other criteria. However, it is not proposing to change other eligibility criteria or increase the premium to match primary schools.
Department for Education
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Government Response AI assessment · 32 of 24 classified
Accepted 13
Accepted in Part 8
Acknowledged 4
Deferred 2
Rejected 5
Total 24 recs + 8 conclusions
Correspondence 1 letter
25 Oct 2023 Correspondence to the Treasury following responses to funding recommendations made in the Government Response to the Childcare and Early Years report
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