Recommendations & Conclusions
8 items
5
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Support for childcare an…
Accepted in Part
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 entitlements.
Read more
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 entitlements.
Show less
Government response AI summary
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 …
Read full response →
Department for Education
9
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Support for childcare an…
Accepted in Part
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 together in settings outside their own home, following the French …
Read more
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 together in settings outside their own home, following the French model of maisons d’assistants maternels (MAMs). b) Working with the Department of Levelling up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to remove barriers to childminders setting up businesses in rented properties. If this cannot be done through a voluntary process in which Registered Social Landlords and local authorities create a specific exemption for childminding businesses, then the DLUHC should consider legislation. c) Permitting parents to claim funded hours for their child if they are cared for by a registered childminder who is also a member of their extended family. An exemption for a childminder’s own children is understandable but it is unclear why grandchildren, nieces and nephews need to face the same barriers. d) Allowing Childminder Agencies to register part-time childminders and considering the balance of costs between Childminder Agency and Ofsted registration costs and fees. (Paragraph 55) Support for parents and families
Show less
Government response AI summary
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, …
Read full response →
Department for Education
11
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Support for childcare an…
Accepted in Part
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 parents to reconfirm their eligibility every three months for both …
Read more
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 parents to reconfirm their eligibility every three months for both the 30-hours entitlement and the Tax-Free Childcare scheme is unduly onerous and should be reduced to once per year.
Show less
Government response AI summary
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.
Read full response →
Department for Education
16
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Support for childcare an…
Accepted in Part
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 easier to use and ensure it is delivering effectively for …
Read more
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 easier to use and ensure it is delivering effectively for eligible families. In doing so it should carefully analyse why so many parents who have gone to the trouble of setting up an account do not the use it and seek to monitor ongoing take up and usage of the scheme. Following this review and any changes to the system, the Government should launch a large scale public campaign to improve awareness.
Show less
Government response AI summary
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.
Read full response →
Department for Education
17
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Support for childcare an…
Accepted in Part
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 £28.7m ‘Home Learning Environment’ fund should be increased, along with …
Read more
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 £28.7m ‘Home Learning Environment’ fund should be increased, along with the Best Start for Life funding to support infant feeding and parent infant relationships. Family Hubs should spread awareness of the childcare subsidy offers and increase take up. They should also provide specific, targeted support to families with children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
Show less
Government response AI summary
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.
Read full response →
Department for Education
25
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Support for childcare an…
Accepted in Part
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 and the early years free or heavily reduced mandatory training …
Read more
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 and the early years free or heavily reduced mandatory training for early years practitioners and also allow more flexibility with timing to limit the impact on provider business, for example by offering evening courses.
Show less
Government response AI summary
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.
Read full response →
Department for Education
26
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Support for childcare an…
Accepted in Part
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 workforce development. As part of this strategy, the Early Career …
Read more
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 workforce development. As part of this strategy, the Early Career Framework should be expanded to the early years sector. National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) should also be promoted more widely to increase uptake, including with Private, Voluntary and Independent (PVI) settings. We also recommend that the Government works to develop their outreach and communication channels with the early years sector to ensure that their voices are heard in the years to come.
Show less
Government response AI summary
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 …
Read full response →
Department for Education
32
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Support for childcare an…
Accepted in Part
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 educational needs. (Paragraph 183) 78 Support for childcare and the …
Read more
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 educational needs. (Paragraph 183) 78 Support for childcare and the early years
Show less
Government response AI summary
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 …
Read full response →
Department for Education