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
4 results
Clear
1 Conclusion Acknowledged
Fifth Report - Support for childca…
Spring Budget missed opportunity to reform tax-free childcare and enhance system flexibility
The Spring Budget announcements are a welcome sign that the Government has realised that urgent care and attention is needed in the childcare and early years education market. We particularly welcome the additional funding for Universal Credit entitlements and the … Read more
Government Response
The government welcomes the report and acknowledges the committee's appetite for further system change. It highlights the significant investment and transformative reforms announced in the Spring Budget 2023, including increased Universal Credit entitlements and extended subsidised hours, as its commitment to improving childcare.
Department for Education
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14 Conclusion Acknowledged
Fifth Report - Support for childca…
Tax-free childcare offers flexible support; withdrawal not in parents' best interests
Despite some witnesses recommending the withdrawal of tax-free childcare and the use of the funding elsewhere, we recognise the benefits of the more flexible support it can provide, especially for wrap around care for school age children. Therefore, we do … Read more
Government Response
The government details the existing range of childcare support, including Tax-Free Childcare, affirming its continuation in line with the committee's conclusion not to withdraw it.
Department for Education
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20 Conclusion Acknowledged
Fifth Report - Support for childca…
Robust evidence base for under-two early childhood education benefits remains undeveloped.
We note that there is less data about the benefits of formal ECEC on children under two years old as studies have focused on children who were receiving the funded entitlement. It will be important to ensure that there is … Read more
Government Response
The government recognises the Committee’s recommendation and will continue to monitor the evidence base as they roll out the expansion of the entitlements.
Department for Education
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24 Recommendation Acknowledged
Fifth Report - Support for childca…
Make career development for early years practitioners an urgent priority to attract and retain staff.
Early years professionals are vitally important. We recommend career development for early years practitioners be made an urgent priority in order to attract and retain more people in the profession. We are concerned about lack of parity of esteem between … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the importance of early years professionals and states that workforce support and career development remain a priority, outlining existing programmes and ongoing efforts to explore how best to recruit and retain staff, including funding training for up to 7,000 early years SENCOs.
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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