Government urged to put disadvantaged children at ‘centre stage’ of Covid-19 recovery plan

Within its State of the Nation 2021 report, the SMC calls for a ‘shake-up’ of child welfare benefits and significant investment in education to end child poverty and reduce the ‘widening’ attainment gap.

It says that action is needed now to ‘rescue the next generation from decades of hardship’ and says the Government, employers and educators should start by ending child poverty. According to the commission, almost one in three children (4.3 million) are now in poverty, 700,000 more than in 2012.

To lift 1.5m children out of poverty, it proposes a £14 billion package of support which includes:

• Removing the two-child limit in universal credit and child tax credit.
• Raising each child payment covered by universal credit by at least £10 per week and increasing child benefit by the same amount.

It also recommends:

• Extending eligibility of the 30 hours of funded childcare to all children.
• Giving the early years workforce better pay and career structures.
• Extra funding for the pupil premium to reflect long-term disadvantage.
• Drawing up measures to track social mobility progress over the next 30 years.

The SMC says it recognises that ‘hard choices’ have to be made, but that ‘extra taxation should be levied only on those who can afford to pay’.

Sandra Wallace, interim co-chair of the SMC, said, ‘Now is the time to take action and we must not shy away from difficult decisions. Now is the moment to level up opportunities for children across the country. Ending child poverty and investing significantly in education are two of the most impactful and influential things the UK government can do to improve social mobility.

Co-chair Steven Cooper added, ‘A recovery programme presents a chance to put social mobility at the top of the agenda, but it will have to be a group effort. It will require commitment from Government, employers, educators and local leaders to ensure young people have greater access to opportunities from school to employment.’

Responding to the report, Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), said that one measure that could be put in place straight away would be to increase the Early Years Pupil Premium, bringing it in line with the rate primary schools receive.

‘Even pre-Covid, the early years sectors across England, Scotland and Wales were facing a staffing crisis due to low pay, long hours and tough regulations. The quality and knowledge of nursery practitioners is integral to children’s outcomes and learning experiences and to improving social mobility. This must be recognised by governments and the early years workforce properly supported.'

The NDNA also welcomed the commission's call to provide sufficient funding for early education places. 

A Government spokesperson said, ‘We know that children in households where every adult is working are much less likely to be in poverty. That’s why our multi-billion pound plan for jobs is helping people across the country improve their skills and move forward in their working lives. We also have a comprehensive childcare offer for working parents, while universal credit has supported millions throughout the pandemic.

‘This Government is focused on levelling up opportunity so that no young person is left behind. That’s why we are providing the biggest uplift to school funding in a decade, investing in early years education and targeting our ambitious recovery funding to support disadvantaged pupils with their attainment.’

The State of the Nation 2021 report is available here