Nursery World - Political parties told to simplify early years funding system

Ahead of the next general election, the Education Policy Institute (EPI) is calling on the political parties to simplify the early years funding system and weight it ‘more heavily’ towards children with SEND and from low-income families.

The EPI has put forward a number of changes it believes should be made to the education system by the next government, PHOTO: Adobe Stock

The EPI, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, has published a summary of the best evidence on current education challenges and effective policy interventions to assist political parties in drawing up their manifesto pledges on education.

It says that ‘following disruption from the pandemic and over a decade of austerity, the education system in this country faces a number of challenges in the years ahead.

‘But, with a general election anticipated next year, there is a risk education will not secure the profile it requires given wider economic issues and demands on public services.’

Recommendations

Along with simplifying funding, it also recommends an early years strategy be published and implemented to create a sustainable model for providers, which is also affordable for families, including rolling out the family hub model in England.

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