Nursery World - 'Don't renege on early years'

The Government was given a stern warning not to backslide on its commitment to the early years during a lively House of Commons debate which reviewed many of the concerns explored in the education and skills select committee's recent report on the sector. Committee chairman Barry Sheerman MP opened the well-attended debate in Westminster Hall at the end of October by commenting that the 'word on the street' was that the Government was losing its interest in early years, having considered the job done and was moving on to post-11 education. He said there was a feeling that commitment to Sure Start, 'and to a great deal besides', had waned. The committee had been particularly concerned to hear about a slow-down in the roll-out of Sure Start, with the figures revealing a significant underspend.

Committee chairman Barry Sheerman MP opened the well-attended debate in Westminster Hall at the end of October by commenting that the 'word on the street' was that the Government was losing its interest in early years, having considered the job done and was moving on to post-11 education. He said there was a feeling that commitment to Sure Start, 'and to a great deal besides', had waned. The committee had been particularly concerned to hear about a slow-down in the roll-out of Sure Start, with the figures revealing a significant underspend.

Mr Sheerman warned, 'It will be necessary to continue to invest considerable resources in early years provision if the committee's ambition, that all the nation's children should be able to realise their full potential, is to be achieved. It will be achieved - along with further successes at ages seven, 11, 14 and 16 - and accompanied by a subsequent increase in the number of entrants into higher education, only if early years education continues to be of paramount importance to all Governments, now and in future.'

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