The independent public spending watchdog warns that the quality of services for England’s most vulnerable children may be compromised by the UK government’s proposed Extended Childcare Offer.
The National Audit Office expressed concern in an alarming report published on Wednesday that the ‘influx of inexperienced staff’ and changes to supervision ratios for two-year-olds could compromise the quality of infant care.
The government has promised to give more support to families of working parents by providing childcare arrangements. Starting on 1 April, all infants over the age of nine months in England will gradually be able to benefit from the 30 hours a week of free childcare offered to three- and four-year-olds.
Additionally, families with two working parents, each earning less than £100,000 a year and working at least 16 hours a week on the minimum wage, will be eligible for support.
Risks of Extending Childcare Offer
NAO has expressed concern about the rapid growth of childcare places, which may displace children in need of support. Although the government’s pilot scheme offers incentives to attract staff, the sector faces low pay and high turnover.
It highlights the need to monitor the impact on the quality and accessibility of childcare places, particularly for disadvantaged children and children with special needs.
Lack of staff remains a major obstacle to the expansion of the sector. Researchers estimate that 40,000 additional childcare professionals will need to be hired by September 2025.
“The Department for Education must urgently clarify what it will do if the early years sector cannot recruit the staff it desperately needs, to avoid disappointing tens of thousands of parents over the next 18 months.” said Dame Meg Hillier.
The Spring Budget announcement of this new childcare allowance comes after ten years of sharp falls in the number of childminders and nurseries.
In April, 195,355 two-year-olds were using the new government-funded places, according to an announcement by the Department for Education (DfE) on Friday.
However, the NAO study warns that demand will be even more limited when the programme is extended in September. Yet, in March, the government conducted a survey of local authorities, which found that only 34% were optimistic that childcare places would be available in their area to meet demand.
The Education Department stated that the sector has been prepared for the next phases thanks to decisive measures taken by the Education Department.
These measures include an increase in funding well above market rates, the launch of a workforce campaign and new apprenticeship routes, as well as £100 million of capital funding to help expand or refurbish facilities.
Local authorities will continue to be closely worked with by the DfE to monitor places for all children in early years, including those with SEND (special educational needs and disabilities), as added by a spokesperson.
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