Election Special: Who gets the early years sector's vote?

Childcare has been one of hot topics of this campaign and has led to some interesting last-minute pledges. Desperate to win votes from 'hard-working families' they at times seemed almost frantic in their attempts to outdo each other.

Thank you to everyone who contributed. It makes fascinating reading. For the undecided people out there, it is time to make up your mind. Whatever you do on 7 May, vote!

Kuen-Wah Cheung, nursery deputy manager, Hove

GREEN

I was looking to see which party believed childhood and play are valuable in themselves, which party doesn't want nurseries and schools to be mere factories for churning out compliant workers. Green policies were very much music to my ears.

They want to build a free and voluntary universal early education and childcare service. They also seek a scrapping of baseline tests, an abolition of Ofsted, and believe schooling should not be compulsory until the age of seven.

I do think the Lib Dems have some progressive policies, especially regarding Early Years Professionals and Early Years Teachers getting Qualified Teacher Status, but as seen before, their education pledges can become casualties in Coalition.

Lisa Fricker, childminder,Southampton

LABOUR

I watched all the TV debates, looked through all the manifestos, and know who I am voting for. In fact, I voted today because I have a postal vote.

UKIP is a party I would never vote for - I don't believe in anything they do or say. They want to deregulate childcare and allow almost anyone to look after our children.

Conservatives - I would never vote for them either, along with Lib Dems. They have brought this country to its knees over the past five years. More and more people are relying on food banks to feed their families and the NHS would never survive another five years in their hands.

The Green Party has interesting policies for childcare and the NHS and I'd like to put these into the Labour manifesto. I see Labour as the only party that can stop the Tories and form a majority Government.

Thomas Holdich, business development manager, Aspire Training Team, specialising in childcare apprenticeships

CONSERVATIVE

I'm voting Conservative because the Tories have already proven they can grow apprenticeships with 2.2 million new apprenticeship places since 2010. They have also pledged an extra three million 'training places' if they remain in power.

They are also pledging to scrap the jobs tax for under-21s, which will help our childcare clients, mainly small businesses recruiting and training apprentices. I also agree with plans to cap immigration, freeze fuel duty and keep Trident.

Belinda England, proprietor, Belmont Childcare, Thurrock

LABOUR

I'm passionate about providing care and education and support for families and children in the community. Labour offers 25 hours free childcare. I feel it is paramount that families have the option of free childcare. This enables them to work and earn money, consequently supporting the economy.

Overall, Labour supports working families. This is vital -children are then able to receive education and care, with early years practitioners offering individual support to help every unique child achieve their full potential. This creates a solid foundation for future progress, as supported in the Early Years Foundation Stage.

Val Melnyczk, EYT and associate lecturer, Open University

LIB DEMS

Liberal Democrats believe children should be taught by qualified teachers in every class funded by the state, including free schools and academies.

Beginning at the earliest age this principle of being taught by well-qualified, highly trained professionals is really important. Increasing the number of hours provided for young children without paying attention to the quality of care and education they receive is money wasted. The Lib Dems are committed to ensuring each early years setting employs at least one Early Years Teacher by 2020. These professionals will receive Qualified Teacher Status terms and conditions for the first time, meaning remuneration for and recognition of the important role they play in young children's lives.

The Early Years Pupil Premium will allow settings to recruit practitioners who are enthusiastic, innovative and dedicated to working with the very youngest in society and so improve the quality of provision.

The attention to quality in education is why the Lib Dems get my vote.

David Wright, owner, Paint Pots Nurseries, Southampton

UNDECIDED

As a small local family-run group of settings providing early years care and education, the rhetoric from the political parties in the lead up to the election is both predictable and portentous. Somewhere between the promises to the electorate of more “free” childcare and the continued focus on academic attainment at an early age, we search for policy that recognises above all things, the human need for love and that values the development of a sense of joy, wonder, compassion, imagination, curiosity and enthusiasm in our children. I would vote for a party that differentiates the need for serious investment in our next generation, from childcare as an expedient for parents / carers to be employed and contribute to the economy. I have not seen this stated anywhere.

I am also seeking evidence of support for small employers. Yes, we want to pay (above) the living wage but parents can’t afford fees that would support this and the current rate of grant funding does not let us do so. In recent times we have had to swallow additional costs such as pensions, DBS applications, training, statutory sick pay, etc. whilst business rates continue to be a significant cost.       

Reading the manifesto commitments from the parties is frankly dispiriting. An objective assessment of the various promises on offer leads me to conclude that, once again, I will be voting for the least worst option. I remain depressingly undecided!      

Dale Parker, Playworker, East Dereham Day Nursery, Norfolk

GREEN

I have witnessed first-hand the devastating effects Tory welfare reforms have had on the poor and disabled, along with cuts made to vital services, such as mental health, Sure Start centres and the dismantling of the NHS. I have seen how UKIP has contributed to the increase of racial tension, hate crimes and cultivated division in society by scapegoating immigrants. I believe we need a party to tackle the real issue of wealth inequality.

We need to tackle corporate tax avoidance, and regulate big businesses and the banks that created this economic crisis. With Labour offering little more than a diluted version of the Tories, for me the Green Party are the only party committed to ending the suffering of the most vulnerable in society, who seem to want to grasp the mettle and make narrowing the gap between the richest and poorest a top priority, while investing in public services, caring for our children's future and being environmentally progressive.

Sue Jones, Evolution Childcare, Warrington, Cheshire

CONSERVATIVE

As a small business owner I will be voting Conservative for the following reasons. My parents will benefit from guaranteed 20 per cent tax-free childcare. My staff will benefit from the raised income tax threshold. As a provider, I will benefit from the commitment to childcare place growth, and revised realistic funding, including addressing local authority top-slicing. As a growing business, I will benefit from more relaxed planning regulations for D1 use.

Parents hold the key to party political power and the key for me is a Government prepared to work with the sector and enforce policy changes. With the scrapping of Liz Truss and her crazy ratio ideas, I believe David Cameron will deliver on what is right for our sector, and children's education and holistic needs will be put first.

Rebecca Martland, Childminder, Worthing

GREEN

Previously, I have tended to just vote based on habit and family history, primarily Labour or Lib Dem. I come from an area that was heavily hit by mine closures so I was somewhat prejudiced against the Conservatives, although I did consider them at the last election, as I rather liked David Cameron.

I have found coming to a decision very hard. I have focused on education and health policies, and have been concerned by the increasing focus on offering free childcare (lovely idea, but who will end up paying?) and using private companies to shore up NHS services. Today I found a website that enabled me to compare key policies from the various parties. I was interested to see I favoured the Green Party, as this is what I had been seriously considering. The website I used was https://voteforpolicies.org.uk/survey/1/select-issues.

Laura Henry, Founder and CEO, training organisation

NEYTCO

UNDECIDED

I would like to see a strong commitment to continuous professional and personal development from the next Government. Over the last five years there has been a massive reduction in quality CPPD. NEYTCO, as a Community Interest Company, is solution-driven and would hope to work with the next Government in supporting educators and providers to be the best that they can be by offering and maintaining a quality provision for every child in their setting.

Anonymous, nursery manager, Edinburgh

SNP

There is no doubt in my mind who I will vote for - the Scottish National Party. Why? Because of what I believe they will do for children and the people of Scotland. Childcare and education are prioritised in their manifesto.

The SNP 'see' children in the early years; they value this critical period in children's lives. Their welfare aspirations are similar to those in Scandinavian countries, and those are known to be the best in the world. The SNP pledges to tackle austerity, and do you know, I believe them. Nicola Sturgeon is an excellent leader, someone I trust. She has integrity. The SNP, will I believe, put Scotland's children first.

Penny Webb, Penny’s Place Childminding, Worcestershire

GREEN

As a campaigner against many recent Government education policies, my main area of interest has been what the parties have to say about education.

Although, Labour, Conservatives and the Lib Dems have all promised more so called ‘free’ childcare, I am not convinced any of them have fully costed this, or any intention of ensuring it is properly funded.

I am also concerned about their motives, as it appears they are more concerned about getting parents, and particularly mothers, back into work as soon as possible, and are putting pressure on them to do so. The Lib Dems idea of funded places for children from nine months may help some parents, but put more pressure on others.

I am very concerned about about baseline testing and formal academic pressure being put on younger and younger children.

UKIP’s idea of volunteers running before- and after-school clubs (and calling it childminding) horrifies me.

So my vote will go to the Greens, because of their plans to change school starting age to six, and to stop baseline testing and much of the other testing that young children are subject to.

I am not happy there is only one party offering this, and would prefer more choice, so I could choose a party to vote for that promised to cover several of my personal aims for the country.