Nursery World - New DfE research emphasises the impact of Covid on early years sector

Three new reports from the Department for Education outline how childcare settings across the country have been impacted by the pandemic, staffing challenges and sustained Government underfunding.

The series of reports from the DfE look at the impact of the pandemic on nurseries, school-settings and childminders, PHOTO Adobe Stock

The series of reports also highlight providers’ concerns about staff: child ratios being relaxed and, going forward, a ‘limited number’ of qualified and experienced candidates within the sector.

They are however based upon findings from a survey which ran between November and December last year. At total of 1,950 providers took part, made up of group-based providers, school-based providers and childminders.

The Early Years Alliance said the reports, by the National Centre for Social Research and Frontier Economics, showed that there has ‘never been a more difficult time to run, manage or work in an early years setting.’

Key findings from the reports reveal:

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