There is a “sizeable reality gap” between the Government’s policy intentions and progress on opening new school-based nurseries, according to a recent report by the Sutton Trust and the Social Market Foundation.
The Department for Education aims to create 3,000 new or expanded nurseries on school sites in England, using spare space. However, the report reveals “limited appetite” among schools to set up nurseries if they don’t already have one, with 70 per cent saying it’s unlikely they will do so and only 20 per cent already having a plan in place or likely to open one.
Cllr Amanda Hopgood, Chair of the LGA’s Children, Young People and Families Committee, said: “It’s vitally important we improve outcomes for the most disadvantaged children as they will benefit most from early education and childcare. This will be crucial to achieving the Government’s ‘good level of development’ target.
“While school-based nurseries can be right for some areas, all types of early years provision should be supported to grow in areas of need.
“As part of its review of early education and childcare entitlements funding, government should review who is entitled to free childcare hours, to address the potential disparity in support and ensure those on lower incomes do not miss out.
“The entitlements should also be extended to parents and carers who are studying and/or in training, and foster carers and kinship carers, regardless of work or training status.”