Nursery World - The expanded 30 hours risks widening gaps in child development and worsening quality, warns report

New research, published by the Sutton Trust, suggests that the planned expansion of the funded hours to younger children, will 'lock' out disadvantaged children from extra early years education.

The report from the Sutton trust warns the expanded 30 hours will 'lock out' disadvantaged children, PHOTO:Adobe Stock

The report which examines early years systems in a range of countries to identify the best combination of approaches for high-quality education and pinpoint lessons for England, also says that planned changes to staff: child ratios and qualifications risks worsening the quality of care.

It argues that the Government’s expansion treats ‘early years as solely childcare’ and ignores the ‘substantial educational and economic benefits of high-quality universal provision.’

The report, World Class, by researchers at RAND Europe, highlights ‘major’ issues with England’s current childcare system, which it warns will be ‘exacerbated by the Government’s planned expansion.

The issues it identifies include – a large proportion of the poorest children being locked out of extra early years education, insufficient funding rates and planned changes to staff.

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