Alliance responds to IFS research showing the poorest families are set to receive almost no direct benefit from 30-hours expansion

The Early Years Alliance has issued a comment in response to research from the IFS on the impact of the expansion of the 30-hour offers which will see the scheme expanded to children aged nine months onwards from 2025.

According to the report, which can be read , the poorest third of families will see almost no direct benefit from the new entitlements.

Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said:

“There is a wealth of research showing that children from poorer backgrounds benefit the most from quality early education and care – and yet, as this report rightly highlights, the upcoming 30-hour expansion is set to exclude these children almost entirely.

“For all ministers’ talk of the need to ‘close the gap’ between disadvantaged children and their peers as early as possible, the government has made it very clear that this policy was created to encourage parents to return to work, rather than ensuring that all children can access a high-quality early education.

“Let’s be clear: early years provision is more than just childcare. It is vital education, delivered at the most crucial period of a child’s learning and development.

“In no other area of education would we accept the idea of children’s fundamental access to education being determined by their parents’ earnings – so why is it acceptable in the early years?”

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