Nursery World - Editor’s view - Year of living dangerously

2018 has been very tough for those in early years education and childcare – and it is hard to predict what the new year will bring

As we reach the end of the year, it feels like time to take stock of what has been happening in the early years sector and the priorities for 2019.

One problem is that the political situation, with Brexit hanging in the balance, is creating huge uncertainty as well as a paralysis of will and action on anything outside our dealings with the EU.

Brexit could have all sorts of ramifications for the early years, including on recruiting from abroad and parents' ability to pay fees, but it is nearly impossible to make meaningful forecasts.

Another problem is that it seems as though much of what has taken place in early years has gone backwards rather than forwards: the recruitment crisis and the fall in Level 3s; the scrapping of moves to boost graduate numbers; the underfunding of the 30 hours allied to rising costs of wages and business rates; and the proposed revisions to the Early Years Foundation Stage, which are riddled with problems.

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