Early years staff hit hard by cuts

4th July 2011

At a time when public sector workers are walking out over cuts to pensions, new research from the National Children's Bureau (NCB) finds the early years workforce in local authorities is also being hit by budget cuts.

In a survey of members of NCB's Local Authority Early Years Network (LAEYN), it was found that the greatest impact of cuts and loss of ring-fencing to early years budgets would be on staff development and the knock-on effect this could have on quality.

It was also found that three quarters of responding Local Authorities are expecting to make redundancies - with a particular risk to frontline services - and a large majority of Local Authorities are reducing subsidies for quality improvement processes and access to training, conferences and advisory staff.

Sue Owen, Director of Practice Improvement at NCB said: "We know from research that improved outcomes for children are dependent on the skills and qualifications of the early years workforce and quality improvement initiatives have been in place for some time now. So, it is worrying that this vital aspect of local authority support seems likely to be the first to be affected by cuts."

Sir Paul Ennals, Chief Executive of the NCB, said: "Government has repeatedly said that those most vulnerable would be protected from the worst impact of the cuts. However, we know that children and young people, one of the most vulnerable groups in our society, are not being protected and are actually being hit several times over.

"Cuts to local authorities have led to significant reductions in play services, family support and youth services, and welfare reform proposals threaten the income of many families. These cuts simply add to the dramatic effect that the economic downturn is already having on their home lives - parents facing unemployment and increased stress."

However, there were Positive results on children's centres with 73% of respondents saying they would be keeping all their Children's Centres open for at least the next year despite the setbacks they are facing.

Surrey will be retaining its existing network of children's centres. Phil Osborne, Head of Early Years and Childcare Service at Surrey Council, said: "The move from the ring-fenced Sure Start funding to the Early Intervention Grant has been very tough for all authorities.

"In my authority, political and senior officer confidence in the impact of the early years and childcare service has secured a positive financial outcome and we will continue to prioritise our quality improvement programme and support for vulnerable families. I am concerned for the impact for the sector and for children and families in other local authority areas where there have been more stringent financial allocations."

Following the survey, NCB is launching a new quality improvement programme, funded by the Department for Education. The Early Years Peer-to-Peer Support Programme will help Local Authorities to identify and work towards better outcomes for children and families and improve leadership and performance in the early years sector.

A summary of the results of the survey can be found here.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1. The National Children's Bureau surveyed members of its Local Authority Early Years Network1 between early February and the end of March 2011. 53 members (35% of local authorities) completed the survey.

2. The National Children's Bureau's mission is to advance the well-being of all children and young people across every aspect of their lives. As the leading national charity which supports children, young people and families, and those who work with them, across England and Northern Ireland, we focus on identifying and communicating high impact, community and family-centred solutions. We work with organisations from across the voluntary, statutory and private sectors through our membership scheme and through the sector-led specialist networks and partnership programmes that operate under our charitable status.

3. The Local Authority Early Years Network was formed in 1995. It is a national forum through which early years strategic managers in local authorities can share information, support and good practice. 4. The Early Years Peer-to-Peer Support Programme is a sector-led project developed by NCB and the Centre for Excellence and Outcomes in Children's and Young People's Services (C4EO). For further information contact Priya Plowman pplowman@ncb.org.uk

For further information please contact the NCB media team: Clare Quarrell, Jessica Champion or Richard Newson, 0207 843 6044 / 6045 / 6047. Email: media@ncb.org.uk