Some 30,000 of England’s poorest two year olds are missing out on free nursery education under a ‘failing’ government policy, research suggests.
Only three quarters of the most deprived 40% of England’s children have been placed with nurseries and childminders, with councils being urged to deliver on this ‘vital’ support.
Research from the Family and Childcare Trust suggests 37 councils had placed less than 60% of eligible two year olds by November last year, 25 of which were in London.
While statutory guidance obliges local authorities to find places for eligible children, research suggests only 41% of councils have enough places for two-year-olds in all areas.
Government programmes to give 40% of the country’s most deprived children high quality early education by September ‘had not met its target’ – campaigners claim.
‘This flagship policy is vital to the long-term outcomes of England’s most disadvantaged two-year-olds and to close the attainment gap between more advantaged and disadvantaged children,’ chief executive at the Family and Childcare Trust, Anand Shukla, said.
‘We know this is a challenging ask but local authorities must deliver on this policy. They need to make sure that local children’s centres are fully utilised and funded to provide the necessary places for the two-year-olds who are missing out.
‘They also need to take advantage of the time-limited offer of grants and other support available to them from central government to expand provision,’ Shukla added.
Responding to the report, education and childcare minister Elizabeth Truss said: ‘Just two months into the scheme offering free childcare to the most disadvantaged two year olds, more than 70% of parents are taking up places. This is a great achievement, and a huge increase on the 20,000 two year olds who were accessing early education in 2010. And with more than 300,000 places available across the country, there are sufficient places for all eligible two-year-olds whose parents want to take up the offer.
‘We are working closely with local authorities with lower take up rates in reaching out to all families who are eligible for the scheme, and evidence shows that the use of childcare in disadvantaged areas has increased by 16% from 2012 to 2013. But ultimately it is for parents to decide whether they want to take up the place for their child.’
