Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Fifth Report - Support for childcare and the early years
Education Committee
HC 969
Published 26 July 2023
Recommendations
12
Rejected
Para 95
Stop describing 30-hours childcare as ‘free’; use ‘funded’ or ‘subsidised’ hours
Recommendation
To improve awareness and improve parental trust in the childcare subsidy system, we recommend the Government stop describing the 30-hours offer as ‘free hours’ and talk about ‘funded’ or ‘subsidised’ hours instead.
Government Response Summary
The government recognises the Committee’s view but will continue to use the term ‘free’ in its communications with the public, alongside ‘funded’ and ‘subsidised’ where appropriate.
Department for Education
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13
Rejected
Para 96
Develop better support for stay-at-home parents, including frontloaded benefits and expanded leave
Recommendation
We recommend the Government develop better support for parents who choose to stay at home with their children. For example, HMRC could explore ways to frontload child benefits to give parents more support in the early years when the economic …
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Government Response Summary
The government supports parents to make the choices that are right for their families, but has no plans to frontload child benefit or expand parental leave allowances.
Department for Education
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21
Rejected
Para 123
Monitor staff:child ratio changes, reverse if quality suffers, and develop comparable staff qualifications.
Recommendation
We recommend that the Government’s controversial changes to staff:child ratios be closely monitored and reversed if quality and education outcomes are seen to suffer. If the Government’s goal is truly to “bring the UK in line with Scotland and comparable …
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Government Response Summary
The government has proceeded with changing staff:child ratios from 1:4 to 1:5 for two-year-olds and does not commit to reversing this change if quality suffers, but highlights efforts to improve workforce quality through reviewed Level 3 qualification criteria and a consultation on EYFS flexibilities.
Department for Education
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23
Rejected
Reintroduce a Leadership Quality Fund for diverse early years professional qualifications.
Recommendation
The Government has acknowledged the importance of graduate leadership in the ECEC sector. It should now listen to sector-wide calls for an equivalent of the Graduate Leader’s Fund to be reintroduced. We recommend that this is given a broader name, …
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Government Response Summary
The government does not commit to reintroducing a fund equivalent to the Graduate Leader’s Fund, stating it no longer exists. Instead, it highlights existing and alternative support mechanisms for the early years workforce, including increased entitlement funding, a national recruitment campaign, EYITT funding, and the National Professional Qualification in Early Years Leadership, while also considering new apprenticeship routes.
Department for Education
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27
Rejected
Incentivise early years settings to provide higher pay for staff development and promotions.
Recommendation
Staff development and promotions in Early Years settings should be met with higher pay. We recommend the Government consider how best to incentivise and fund settings to do this, for example by setting standards for staff pay as a condition …
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Government Response Summary
The government states it will continue to explore options for workforce recruitment and retention but has no plans to set staff pay rates for early years settings, anticipating that increased funding for new entitlements will give providers greater opportunity to increase wages.
Department for Education
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