Commenting on the proposals outlined in the Early Years National Funding Formula consultation announced today, Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union in the UK, said:
“High investment in early years education is essential. It is vital the sector gets the highest levels of support to ensure children have the best start to their education and their lives.
“The NASUWT has continually challenged the hourly funding rates and identified them as being too low. While any rise to this rate is welcome, it is unlikely that the small increase proposed will address the funding issues for early years providers.
“It is also deeply concerning to see proposals to reduce the funding floor protections by 10% which could create considerable problems for some school-based early years provision.
“The Government’s proposal to use a universal base rate to fund providers implies that all providers are the same, which of course is not the case. As it stands this proposal could place the future of maintained nursery provision at risk.
“The NASUWT believes that a differentiated approach would be preferable and would allow different providers to be supported in ways that best suit their needs and the expectations placed on them in terms of the services they deliver.
“The proposals set out a rapid timeframe for the transition to the new national funding formula and the universal base rate. The Government’s desire to introduce these changes should not be allowed to jeopardise its stated commitment to improving access to quality early years provision.
“The NASUWT will fully engage in the consultation process to represent the views of its members, the early years sector and the teaching profession.”
ENDS
Ben Padley,
Press and Media Officer,
NASUWT
0121 457 6269/07785 463 119
ben.padley@mail.nasuwt.org.uk
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