Fri 25 Oct 2024
Nursery Owner’s Perspective
Nursery owners are navigating increased demand for funded childcare places while grappling with operational costs that current funding fails to cover. This shortfall is particularly felt with SEND children, who often require additional support, resources, and specialised staff. Owners look to LAs for financial assistance and SEND support; however, inconsistencies and funding limitations complicate this relationship. A clearer, more streamlined support structure would help nurseries meet the needs of all children, ensuring a more inclusive approach to early education.
Parent’s Perspective
Parents, especially those from disadvantaged or SEND backgrounds, often struggle with limited access to suitable nursery spots. The eligibility criteria for the 15-hour entitlement can be confusing, and locating nurseries with the facilities and trained staff necessary for SEND care isn’t always feasible. Without accessible childcare, parents’ opportunities for work or further education are restricted, impacting family income and quality of life. Many parents call for a fairer, clearer system that guarantees high-quality, accessible early education in their local communities.
Nursery Worker’s Perspective
Nursery workers face daily challenges in delivering quality care for disadvantaged and SEND children, often within constrained environments. Limited resources and funding can restrict the training opportunities that workers need to best support SEND children, impacting their job satisfaction and the overall quality of care. Staff turnover is common, particularly in settings without adequate SEND support. Nursery workers aspire for policy changes that recognise their critical role and provide support, training, and fair compensation, enabling them to create truly inclusive environments for all children.
The Role of Local Authorities
LAs play a pivotal role in ensuring adequate SEND provision, yet they too face limitations in funding and resource allocation. Conducting effective childcare sufficiency audits, providing necessary grants, and ensuring appropriate SEND support for nurseries often strain LA capacities. To bridge these gaps, LAs must work closely with nurseries to identify needs and provide the resources for an accessible, inclusive education system. Collaborative efforts, transparent communication, and consistent funding could significantly improve SEND and disadvantaged children’s access to quality care.
Conclusion: Building an Inclusive Future in Early Education
This report underscores a critical need for reform in early years education. For disadvantaged and SEND children to benefit from the full promise of early education, government bodies, local authorities, and nursery owners must work together to create an inclusive, accessible system. Sustainable funding, simplified eligibility criteria, and increased support for PVI nurseries are essential steps in ensuring every child has access to quality early education.
By addressing these pain points, we can move toward an early education system that truly serves all children, laying a foundation for a fairer, more inclusive future. For more insights and detailed recommendations, view the full report here.