Select committee: Education Committee
Conclusion 28
Fifth Report - Support for childcare and the early years
Published 26 Jul 2023
Paragraph 179
Addressed to Department for Education
Education Committee Support for childcare and the early years All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
It is widely recognised that effective early intervention and support is vital for improving outcomes for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). We are glad to see the Government’s renewed focus on early years training for SEND through SENCOs and its proposals to include SEND in the Early Years Educator Level 3 qualification. The Government’s focus on cross-departmental working in the 2023 Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and Alternative Provision Improvement plan is also welcome, as this will be vital for effective implementation.
From: Education Committee, Fifth Report - Support for childcare and the early years (HC 969), paragraph 179, 26 July 2023
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 17 October 2023 (deadline 26 September 2023).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The Government welcomes the Committee's report and says it is "in full agreement" on the value of childcare and early education, agreeing with some recommendations and declining others, such as VAT and business rates changes.
- On childminders, it says amendments to the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Bill, which it expects to "come into effect from autumn 2024" pending Royal Assent, will raise the number who can work together from 3 to 4 and allow work on non-domestic premises.
- On business rates and VAT, it states it "currently has no plans to make changes" to business rates support for early years businesses or the nursery VAT exemption.
- On local authority funding, it says it intends to increase the minimum pass-through rate from 95% to 97% "once the roll-out of the new entitlements is sufficiently progressed", and will keep the timing "under review".
- On the 30-hours reconfirmation period and funded hours for related childminders, it states there are "no plans at this time" to change eligibility checks and "currently no plans to change" the family-childminder position.