Early Years Educators

Dear constituent,

I fully recognise the vital role of early years educators and I believe they deserve recognition, gratitude and support for their work.

I share your concerns that the early years sector has been an afterthought, with nurseries and childminders too often being left to fend for themselves.

As you know, the Government is currently advising childminders not to operate in their home if someone in their household has tested positive or has symptoms of COVID-19. It says this is because there is a higher risk of transmission to those going for childcare as they are close to the case for extended periods of time.

I understand Ministers have updated guidance for childminders, outlining alternative options for when someone in their household has tested positive or has symptoms of COVID-19. They say they are keeping the guidance under review.

The Prime Minister promised a plan for living with COVID, but I am concerned about the Government’s strategy. I believe it is premature to end free testing at this stage while the decision to remove self-isolation support payments and weaken sick pay will hit the lowest paid and most insecure workers hardest.

More generally, I am worried the Government has no vision or plan for the early years sector. The pandemic has shone a light on the fragility of the early years sector and forced struggling nurseries, pre-schools and childminders to shut down, with the number of registered childcare providers falling by 3,300 from August 2020 to March 2021. We cannot afford for any more to close, but I am concerned this is precisely what will happen without better support.

I am aware a survey of almost 1000 primary school teachers conducted in November 2021 reported that half of all children are not ready to start school, and 91% of teachers surveyed had at least one child in their class who does not have basic language skills. In my view, childcare must be a key part of our recovery from COVID-19. Early years are crucial in determining children’s life chances and it is time to give the sector the attention it deserves. I urge Ministers to provide the plan that is so desperately needed.

Thank you once again for contacting me about this issue.

Yours sincerely,

Peter Dowd MP