Although the Department for Education and Skills continues to say that the private sector is an important part of early years and childcare policy and that local authorities should not launch in competition with other settings, it is increasingly obvious that some areas are ignoring this. The DfES too is somewhat equivocal in its assurances.
If the Government's intention is to provide universal state-funded childcare, perhaps it should say so. As it is, private providers are being given mixed messages, while trying to comply with Government initiatives, cope with falling numbers of children, and fight to keep staff attracted by far higher wages on offer down the road.
What will happen when the funding for some of the new provision runs out and much of it proves unsustainable? The private sector may by then be in a severely weakened state. Margaret Hodge is likely to face a stormy reception at September's conference on the role of the private sector.
