Commenting on a new report released today (Wednesday 21 July) by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) and the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) on the impact of the pandemic on early years settings and staff, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“Many early years settings went into the pandemic already in a precarious financial position. The last fifteen months has only exacerbated this, with uncertain demand, Covid infection, and staff shortages all contributing to closures and new financial difficulties.

“The demand for early years places is likely to rise again once the pandemic eases though, so it is in the government’s interest to support early years settings through this difficulty – in order to make sure parents have access to childcare that enables them to work, as well as to give children the best possible start educationally and to support recovery for those born during the pandemic.

“It is time for the government to properly invest in the Early Years sector.”