Agenda item

The Chair invited Flora Wilkie, Adviser, to introduce the item to outline the Government’s 2023 Spring Budget announcement of reforms to the early years education and childcare system and the LGA’s policy approach for early years. Officers had been refreshing the LGA’s policy approach for early years education and childcare following a discussion at the March CYP Board.

Members comments:

·       Providers of early years education and childcare had fed back that ‘funded places’ are not fully funded. Providers had to reduce the number of funded places available, or cross-subsidise places from fee-paying parents – which would not happen in deprived areas, leaving the most disadvantaged unsupported. Additionally, as more families had been working from home more often, fewer fees are being paid and nurseries would not be receiving this additional income. It was requested that this be emphasised in the policy position.

·       Greater emphasis on the chronic recruitment and retention issues was needed in the policy position, as additional funded places could not be delivered without adequate staffing levels. Providers had given feedback that wages are the main barrier to recruitment and retention.

·       A member raised the point that there is a feminist issue around the perception of early years work, as the workforce is almost entirely women and perceived as low status and low pay - until this is resolved the crisis would continue.

·       Concern was raised around the lack of clarity on which qualifications are needed to work in the sector. Another member pointed out a lack of suitably qualified staff from early career level to educational psychologists.

·       The funding shortage for the maintained nursery sector needed to be emphasised in the policy position, as the expectation is for maintained nurseries to run as schools with a headteacher. Also, it was raised that maintained nurseries are isolated, not able to academise or join trusts.

·       Foster carers and kinship carers should have additional hours made available to them without meeting the work criteria of early years funded entitlements. Emphasis should be placed on the money kinship and foster carers save the Government and the extension to this cohort would further aid this.

·       It was suggested that the LGA has a role in sector led improvement and good practice is shared.

·       A member called for the removal of childminder agencies from the report due to its failure.

·       A member commented that placing the sufficiency team within the commissioning team helped address the conflict between quality, quantity and sufficiency of local provision detailed in paragraph 74 of the report.

·       Early identification of SEND children and children with more complex needs, such as speech and language needs was highlighted in combination with the need for additional help to follow the child throughout their life.

·       There was a consensus view that information sharing on good practice between local authorities was needed.

The Chair invited Richard Cooke, Head of Children’s Services Improvement to speak. Richard Cooke explained that the Department for Education had recently provided a small grant over the next couple of years around early years, specifically speech and language development. Richard Cooke acknowledged it would not address all the issues discussed, however it would be something councils could tap into.

Decision

The Board endorsed the draft early years policy paper subject to comments made during the discussion and agreed that Lead members sign of the final papers in July.

Action

·       Officers to circulate final papers with the Board following sign off.

·       Officers to share details of the funding provided from the DfE to the LGA.