Nursery World - Cross-party Lords urge ministers to reverse cuts to early years services

A House of Lords committee are calling for the Government to restore funding for early years services and youth support to 2010 levels to protect vulnerable children.

The cross-party committee of Lords want the Government to revert back to 2010 levels of spending on early years services PHOTO Adobe Stock

The House of Lords’ Public Services Committee says that more than a million vulnerable children are being ‘damaged’ and their life chances reduced by cuts to early years and youth support since 2010, which they want reversed.

A new report from the committee, published today (19 November), finds that lack of investment in protecting children at risk of serious harm has been felt ‘disproportionately’ in the most deprived areas. This has resulted in worse life chances for children, bigger bills for taxpayers and more pressure on social services.

The committee wants Government to pledge to return to higher 2010 levels of investment in early help services to support children and families. It is also calling for ministers to urgently set out a national cross-Government funded strategy with a plan for a nationwide roll-out of Family Hubs at its heart.

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