says they believe it's possible to build a world-class early education system that supports children, parents and the economy to thrive.
Early education and childcare policy is like a Rubik’s Cube. As soon as you think you’ve solved it, you realise that another side of this complex puzzle is out of alignment; with so many stakeholders in the system it’s difficult to give everyone what they want.
And just like a Rubik’s Cube, getting policy right in this space takes patience and commitment. Those are qualities that members of the Early Education and Childcare Coalition have shown in abundance over the last two years, and today it has resulted in the publication of Rescue and Reform, our manifesto for the next government.
Having spent two years developing a very diverse coalition, its fair to say we’re realistic about how hard it can be to secure agreement and achieve progress.
The scale of change and level of investment required to transform early education and childcare requires sustained action and collaboration over multiple political cycles.
This puzzle is too big, and too complex for one single organisation – or indeed, a single political party – to solve alone or to fix overnight. But through genuine partnership among stakeholders and across the political spectrum, we believe that it is possible to build a world-class early education and childcare system that supports children, parents and the economy to thrive.
Progress in partnership
The EECC is a genuine effort at fostering that partnership. Our members are parent campaign groups, child advocacy organisations, early childhood development experts, provider membership bodies, trade unions representing the early years workforce, anti-poverty campaigners and the business lobby.
That diversity is our strength – we represent many different stakeholders and when we speak in unison, it has an impact. But that diversity can also be challenging. We come from different perspectives and we sometimes speak in different terms. We also experience early education in different ways; for some of us the issue is funding, for others its affordability or inclusion, and for many more it’s the pay and conditions of the workforce.
However, underpinning that diversity is an indisputable common ground – the interests of the child.
Whether a coalition member is a parent or an early years professional, it is the development and wellbeing of the child that motivates what they ultimately want from the early education and childcare system.
Voters recognise this too. In our polling released today, 67 per cent of voters said that increased Government funding for early education would improve the life chances of children, while half of voters think the first five years shape the rest of our lives. It is that sentiment that is woven through our joint manifesto, and it is what should form the basis of early years policy under the next government.
Our manifesto is a call to action to politicians, but it is also an invitation to everyone with a stake in early education to work together.
This is not a time to pit parents against providers, or to prioritise affordability over quality. All of these issues, and all of us, are equally important and we all have a role to play in the rescue and reform of early education.
Rescue and Reform
The ‘rescue’ element of our manifesto premise refers to the need to address current challenges. This has to include an immediate and urgent increase to funding rates to stabilise the sector. Without that, provision will shrink while demand increases as a result of the new entitlements.
But we also need a new workforce strategy that doesn’t just focus on recruiting more people to the sector, but one that works to retain the brilliant and dedicated existing workforce.
Our polling has shown that 71 per cent of voters in England believe every child should have the right to access early education, regardless of their parents’ employment status.
But without the right levels of funding or a strategy to grow the workforce there will be no infrastructure to support better access for children or to enable better inclusion for those children currently missing out particularly children with SEND and those from the most disadvantaged backgrounds.
The ‘reform’ element of our manifesto speaks to long-term goals.
Alongside a programme to stabilise the sector now, we must have a programme of long-term reform. This needs to be delivered by a new and independent National Early Education and Childcare Commission that looks at the current funding model, undertakes transparent annual reviews of funding, pay and conditions and works to reduce the percentage of household income spent on childcare fees.
These are just some of the reforms proposed in our joint manifesto. It is not a perfect plan or Utopian vision, but the consensus around these policies does send a clear message to all political parties that change and ambition are needed.
Voters want to see that too. More than two-thirds (67 per cent) say investing in early education and childcare is good for the whole country not just parents. When we asked this question last year that figure was 59 per cent.
Support and awareness are increasing. This offers hope and optimism at a time when its so very needed, but it also shows that whether you’re a parent or a provider, whether you use ‘childcare’ or ‘early education’, people are listening and we must act on that now in the name of progress.
It is incumbent on all of us now to stay focused on that common ground and remember that, despite the different ways we experience the current system, we ultimately want the same thing – what is best for our children.
