New childcare policy could increase attainment gap, study cautions

A study by thinktank CentreForum has found that a new policy to provide working families with 30 hours of free childcare for under five-year-olds could widen the attainment gap when children start school.

The policy, which is due to come into force in September 2017, could mean that children from disadvantaged backgrounds may receive worse off access to good quality early-years education.

The report argued that issuing extra childcare for three-and four-year-olds could create an increased demand for nursery places, which could result in poor families who qualify for free places being squeezed out of nurseries.

It warned that previous experience has shown that providing 15 free hours to all three- and four- year olds has meant that underfunding and a lack of places can lead to poor quality provision. The report advised that in order for early years education to have an impact on attainment upon starting school, early years provision must be of high quality.

In a foreword to the report, David Laws, executive chairman for CentreForum, said: “There is a risk that this policy may widen the attainment gap on entry to school, and cut across initiatives such as the Pupil Premium, which aim to narrow this gap.”

The report concluded: “The existing free entitlement does not necessarily offer the level of quality that would be required for the attainment gap to be reduced substantially...

“Extending the entitlement to 30 hours per week for working families is likely to place further strain on quality and access for the most disadvantaged children. This is due to the eligibility criteria for the policy, the capacity of the sector, and the quality of provision which can be offered under the funding rates provided.”