Nursery World - Editor's view (90)

The early years sector has consistently called for direct subsidies to help private and voluntary settings pay higher wages for more highly-qualified staff. Now it seems that this may indeed be enabled by the transformation fund, details of which are due to be revealed soon (see News, page 4). Inevitably, once the subsidies look likely to become reality, the pitfalls start to emerge. National press headlines reporting the proposal claimed that taxpayers would be 'bailing out' private and voluntary sector nurseries. We need a huge education campaign on this issue, to show the public and the media that high-quality childcare can't just be left to market forces. Without a subsidy, if parents can't afford to pay higher fees, then staff can't be paid higher salaries, and it will be very hard to raise standards. Good early years education and childcare costs money, and the state has to shoulder some of the burden.

Inevitably, once the subsidies look likely to become reality, the pitfalls start to emerge. National press headlines reporting the proposal claimed that taxpayers would be 'bailing out' private and voluntary sector nurseries. We need a huge education campaign on this issue, to show the public and the media that high-quality childcare can't just be left to market forces. Without a subsidy, if parents can't afford to pay higher fees, then staff can't be paid higher salaries, and it will be very hard to raise standards. Good early years education and childcare costs money, and the state has to shoulder some of the burden.

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