"Without an increase in funding the rise in wages will be passed onto struggling parents in the form of higher childcare costs. Not only would that go against the spirit of this Budget, it would also undermine the Government’s manifesto commitments to families." (3/3)

"Importantly, the Government has committed to a review of the childcare system which in its current form, locks out the poorest families. The rise in the NLW is welcome in a low-paid sector like early years but at the moment it's unclear how that’s going to be funded." (2/3)

Instead of easing the pressure on families’ cost of living, an underfunded rise could have the opposite effect and cause childcare costs to increase.
Read our full report here www.earlyeducationchildcare.org/autumn-2024-...

With the Government now the largest purchaser of childcare hours it is essential that the Chancellor fully funds any wage growth across the sector. Without this we will see continued wage suppression, higher turnover and an impact on the consistency of provision.

April’s uplift hit 68% of workers salaries, and without adequate funding to support both the increase in the minimum wage and a fair pay structure across roles, most of that rise had to be absorbed by settings or passed on to parents.

On the 18th & 25th of Nov, Coalition Member @eyalliance.bsky.social are hosting a free two part training session on Supporting prematurely-born children and their families in the early years.
Register here: bit.ly/47Hb1yg

Our Exec Director @sarahronan.bsky.social spoke to @theipaper.com about the role of underfunding in shaping the childcare market.

Read more here: inews.co.uk/news/labour-...