While the FPI Family Friendly report card acknowledges that the percentage of early years providers rated as good or outstanding has increased, it warns that a gap still remains between the quality of provision in the most and least deprived areas.
It goes on to say that there are fewer Sure Start children’s centres. In April 2010 there were 3,631 compared to 3,506 in September 2011, a reduction of 124 settings.
The charity’s report card welcomes the Government’s offer of free nursery places for two-year-olds and the free trial of parenting classes, but claims that the initiatives come against a back-drop of benefit and tax credit cuts, high childcare costs and high costs of living.
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