Today (5 December) Prime Minister Keir Starmer made a speech outlining how the government will achieve its Plan for Change, with one of its key milestones focussing on early years. 

“Children’s early years are crucial to their development, health and life chances. Antenatal classes, health visitors, parenting support, baby and toddler groups and access to affordable, high quality early education and childcare – all are vital to guiding parents and supporting child development.”  Milestone: Giving children the best start in life

The Prime Minister committed to ensure children are “ready to learn when they start school” measured by 75% of 5-year-olds in England reaching a good level of development in the EYFS assessment (currently 67.7% of 5-year olds reach this level).  

To achieve this ambition, the government has pledged to: 

• Ensure children in all areas can access high quality early education and childcare, by continuing the expansion of funded early education and support 3,000 school-based nurseries.  
• Drive up standards in the workforce, working in partnership with the sector to reform training and CPD opportunities to ensure quality. 
• Strengthen and join up children and family services through the Family Hubs and Start for Life programmes. 
• Rollout schools’ access to evidence-based programmes that boost early literacy and numeracy skills. 

Helen Donohoe, Chief Executive at PACEY comments: 

“The Prime Minister is absolutely right to highlight the importance of the early years of every child’s life in setting the foundations for their future. At that stage young children will interact with many services, and it is crucial, as highlighted in his speech, that those services interact and coordinate their work. 

“It is at that intersection that childminders offer their unique value. We know that our members not only provide first class early education but also life changing support and help to wider families, as well as liaison between services. They do this now and could do so much more. That is why we need a childminder strategy.”