Nursery World - Labour's early years job 'is not finished'

Early years organisations have expressed their disappointment with an apparent shift in Government attitudes following remarks made by the education secretary in the House of Commons last week. During a debate on the Ofsted annual report, Estelle Morris said, 'We were always straight about the rate of progress. We always said that in the first four years we would prioritise primary and early years education. We did so. We delivered and it worked.

During a debate on the Ofsted annual report, Estelle Morris said, 'We were always straight about the rate of progress. We always said that in the first four years we would prioritise primary and early years education. We did so. We delivered and it worked.

'At the second election, we always said that we would prioritise secondary education. That is exactly what we will do, because we are addressing the difficulties at secondary level. The results show that with targeted effort, financial support and partnership between the Government and others, standards can be raised.'

Her comments will confirm the suspicions of many in the early years sector that were raised after Labour's second election victory last May, when Ms Morris told the House that the early years was no longer a Government priority.

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