This week we have seen media reports that the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak plans to scrap plans for childcare and early years reform in England, put forward by former Prime Minister Liz Truss. These included a move to relax ratio requirements in settings, expand the number of funded hours offered to families and direct funding for entitlements to parents rather than providers.   

Prime Minister’s speech 

Yesterday Rishi Sunak set out his ambition for a ‘better future for our children and grandchildren’ however made no mention of childcare and early years. He outlined a 5-point plan of priorities:  

• Halving inflation in 2023 
• Growing the economy and create better opportunity 
• Reducing national debt,  
• Cutting NHS waiting lists  
• Passing new laws to stop small boats crossing the channel 

Following his speech, the Prime Minister was asked how his intention to scrap the childcare and early years reforms fit in to building a better future for children. He said the Government is still “committed to ensure good affordability, availability and flexibility of childcare” and looks to “improve” on the offers available and consider some reforms.  

PACEY is waiting for confirmation from the Department for Education (DfE) on which elements of the reforms are still being considered by Government, including its proposals around relaxing ratios for nurseries and pre-schools and ‘making it easier’ to become a childminder. We will update members when we know more.  

The DfE’s official response to its summer consultation into ratio and regulation change in England is due to be published shortly.  

Helen Donohoe, Chief Executive at PACEY comments:  

“PACEY and others had already raised significant concerns around the Government’s proposals for ratio and regulation change, which would only add more pressure on our already-stretched sector. So, if the Government is dropping these concerning proposals, this has to be celebrated.  

“However the early years and childcare sector is still in dire need of investment and reform, and given its role in supporting the economy and building positive outcomes for families, it was concerning to hear no mention of it in the Prime Minister’s priorities yesterday.  

"We don’t want to lose the momentum for positive change that was building last year, and PACEY will continue to push Government to put in place an ambitious vision for early years and childcare accompanied by meaningful investment. The last thing we want is for our youngest children to fall off the Government’s agenda and see the crisis in our sector worsen.”