Early years charity Kindred Squared ran a snapshot poll of 2,500 adults in England and Wales from 21 June to 1 July to find out how far those who do say they value early years would go to support greater investment.
Using the £5 GP charge as a ‘simple, universal and easily understood’ way of doing this, the results found that support for increased investment in early years rises as people get older but there is a generational divide, with younger age groups more willing to pay a small fee OF £5 for GP services to fund early years (41 per cent) compared to older demographics.
Director of Kindred Squared, Felicity Gillespie, who is a member of the independent advisory panel advising Sir David Bell's Review of Early Years, told Nursery World, ‘The question wasn’t based on the £5 as a way of funding any specific single programme.However, there are many interventions that we know would make a significant difference to closing the gap at aged five.
'Ensuring there is clearer information for parents on child development available from birth; restoring the number of health visitors; linking up community-based support services available to young families; levelling up the early years pupil premium to primary rates; investing the training and development of the workforce; targeting expansion of provision in the existing childcare deserts; improving the understanding of future parents through curriculum reform…the list goes on.”
The polling, carried out by Savanta, found that over six in ten (62 per cent) adults believe that early childhood interventions have a greater long-term societal impact than increased funding for universities and colleges.
Only one in five (20 per cent) prioritised higher education funding, while nearly the same number (19 per cent) said they were ‘unsure’.
Gillespie said, ‘It’s encouraging to find that a significant proportion of the public are realising the comparative importance of investment in early years.
'Our annual school readiness survey shows that too many children are starting school behind before they even begin. Attainment gaps are locked in very early.
'How many more children could have the opportunity of success in higher education if they had a better start in life? As a nation, we need to be focusing more of our resources - time, effort and money - on giving babies and toddlers the solid foundations they need.’
