Sector cautiously welcomes Labour's plans for school-based nurseries
Katy Morton
Monday, June 10, 2024
The sector has cautiously welcomed Labour's plans to convert classrooms into school-based nurseries, urging the party to consult with PVI providers so the sustainabilty of existing settings isn't threatened.
Yesterday, the Labour party revealed more details of its plans to convert 3,334 spare classrooms into school-based nurseries, providing an additional 100,000 childcare places - a 6 per cent increase over current places, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS).
England is set to have around 400,000 fewer primary school pupils by 2029.
The IFS says the increase in places would cover the expected rise in demand for places under the expanded offer.
However it warned that the ‘biggest test’ would be whether these settings could recruit and retain staff to deliver high-quality care.
It also said that Labour would need to ‘exercise care’ in choosing the locations of the new provision as the most disadvantaged areas where childcare supply is lowest, also tend to have lower demand for provision because of lower employment rates and fewer families eligible for the expanded offer. The IFS said that ‘Any centrally-planned shortlist should take account of demand as well as supply.’
Christine Farquharson, an associate director at the IFS, explained, ‘By far the biggest choice Labour has made on childcare was the decision to sign up to the hugely ambitious expansion of funded childcare entitlements that the current Government has introduced.
‘By contrast, the plans announced today to pay for the conversion of 3,300 primary school classrooms (going spare because of falling pupil numbers) may nudge the market in a different direction – but certainly won’t transform it.
'Targeting provision at childcare ‘deserts’ could help to expand access to childcare in under-served areas – but a sensible plan would take into account the likely local demand for childcare, not just the (lack of) supply.’
'The sector must be central to any reform.'
The Early Years Alliance said that while Labour is right to focus on increasing provision in lower-income areas, because the majority of early years place are currently delivered by PVI providers, this part of the sector must be ‘central’ to any reform.
Similarly, the Early Education and Childcare Coalition said that if Labour does form the next government, it hopes this policy will be delivered in collaboration with stakeholders including early years providers who will need reassurances and clarity about what this will mean for them.
The Coalition went on to say, ‘Providers will want to see action to address the current challenges facing the sector, including low funding, dwindling numbers of childminders and a lack of suitable provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
'Labour’s commitment to increasing the number of places is the right one, however if you boost places you have to also boost staff numbers, so underpinning its plan for reform must be a new workforce strategy that will attract more people into the sector and see early years professionals receive the pay, conditions and respect they deserve.’
'Places must be age-appropriate'.
The National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) highlighted a need to ensure spaces in school-based nurseries are ‘suitable and age appropriate environments for younger children.’
Chief executive Purnima Tanuku said that ‘any plans should be done in consultation with communities to ensure it is meeting the needs of local families and not duplicate or displace existing high-quality provision. Threatening the sustainability of existing pre-schools and nurseries will not help children or families.’
Unison said that Labour’s plans ‘make a lot of sense.’
Assistant general secretary Jon Richards explained, ‘As workers in school-run nurseries are on nationally agreed local authority rates, wages tend to be higher than in privately run establishments.
‘This should help the new nurseries attract the best staff and keep hold of them too. More parents could then secure places and return to work, boosting the economy. That's why Labour's plans make a lot of sense.’
Joeli Brearley, chief executive and founder of Pregnant Then Screwed, said, ‘This announcement by Labour is unlikely to grab headlines or swing undecided voters but it does demonstrate a seriousness when it comes to dealing with the many underlying issues. There is little point in reducing the cost of childcare for parents if they cannot access a place, and with long waiting lists, and childcare deserts across England, it is imperative we do not continue to paper over the cracks.
‘Pregnant Then Screwed welcomes this announcement as a first stage plan to reform the sector.’
