Nursery World - Michael Pettavel: 'A fresh start is needed'

If Labour win the next election, they will have a lot of work on their hands to repair more than a decade’s worth of damage

Michael Pettavel

Has anybody seen a plan? I’m sure there is meant to be one somewhere.

In the seven months or so since announcing the roll-out of free childcare hours for children under three, there has been barely a squeak out of the Government about how it might actually work. Forgetting the not inconsequential factors such as availability, staffing and sufficiency, it would be helpful to know what it might look like in practical terms. The silence is becoming deafening.

Perhaps, beyond the 15 hours for two-year-olds in April 2024, they are assuming it may not be their problem. The funding documents use ‘in due course’, so that probably means on 31 March next year. I suppose the Government is looking towards local authorities to do the work, even though a fair number appear to be going bankrupt.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included