Sutton Trust

Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2020)

Increased access to early childhood education and care for some working parents through the 30 hours policy.

Widening attainment gap between disadvantaged children and their peers.
Concerns about the sustainability and quality of early years provision due to insufficient funding.
Inequalities in access to 30 hours free childcare, with disadvantaged children often qualifying for fewer hours than their more advantaged peers.
Financial instability in the early years sector, leading to closures, particularly in disadvantaged areas.
Underfunding of early years entitlements, potentially affecting access and affordability for parents.
Complexity of the funding system, creating barriers for parents.
Recruitment and retention challenges in the early years workforce.
Lack of parity between early years teachers and school teachers with qualified teacher status (QTS).
Cuts to local authority discretionary funds targeted at disadvantaged children.
Reduction in local authority capacity to provide quality improvement support and professional development.

Recommendations for extending eligibility for 30 hours childcare to all families of 3-4 year-olds currently eligible for disadvantaged 2-year-old provision.
Recommendations for increased funding for government-funded hours.
Recommendations for reviewing the Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP).
Recommendations for a long-term aspiration to have a qualified teacher in every setting.
Recommendations for a ‘Leadership Quality Fund’ to attract and retain qualified staff.
Recommendations for encouraging and resourcing settings to provide more direct support for parents.
Recommendations for setting maintained nursery schools’ funding at a sustainable level.
Recommendations for monitoring the impact of policies on the attainment gap and quality of provision.
Recommendations for monitoring take-up of the 30 hours by children with SEND, looked after children, and children of different ethnic backgrounds.

Climate Change Data