Today (17 May 2024) the Early Education and Childcare Coalition (EECC) launched its new manifesto with proposals to ‘rescue and reform’ the early education and childcare sector in England. The Coalition, which is co-chaired by PACEY’s Chief Executive, Helen Donohoe, is a group of over 30 organisations calling for change in the sector.

The new Rescue and Reform manifesto sets out 3 key priorities for Government:

1. Guarantee that all children can access inclusive, high-quality provision that is affordable for their parents.
2. Commit to sustainable and fair funding for all types of providers.
3. Establish and invest in an early years workforce strategy.

Supporting its manifesto, the Coalition has published new research around voters’ perspectives of early education and childcare:

• 71% of voters think children should have a right to access early education and childcare regardless of their parents’ employment status.
• 67% of voters say investing in early education and childcare is good for the whole country, not just parents (up from 59% last year).
• 53% are concerned about the availability of early education and childcare in England, with 40% saying it’s difficult to find provision and 49% saying it is unaffordable.

Helen Donohoe, Chief Executive at PACEY and Co-Chair of the Coalition:

“In the same week that we launched our Manifesto for Childminders we are delighted, as members of the coalition, to fully support Rescue and Reform.

“It is testimony to the critical importance of early education and childcare that over 30 organisations have come together to present these policy proposals to those seeking to form the next Westminster government. Furthermore, voters agree, with coalition research showing 67 per cent believe that investing in early education and childcare is good for the whole country.

“Our future government can have no greater ambition than building the foundations for every child to have the very best start in life, and properly resourced early education and childcare, that is accessible and secure, with a respected and valued workforce should sit at the heart of that.

“As we outlined in our Manifesto there are urgent actions needed to stabilise the sector, not least the workforce. However, just as important is the will to deliver reform through long-term, strategic thinking that ensures effective investment that will bring a brighter future for all children and growth for the country as a whole.”

A manifesto for childminders

Earlier this week PACEY also launched it’s own manifesto to commemorate the Childminding Week 2024 and coincide with our work with the EECC.