Lib Dems outline plans to develop an early years career strategy and review funding rates

Within its manifesto, published today, the party has said if it is to win the general election next month, it would develop a career strategy for nursery staff, including a training programme.

Other plans to ensure all parents can access childcare that is flexible, affordable and fair include:

• Reviewing the rates paid to providers for ‘free’ hours to ensure the amount they receive covers their actual costs.
• Including a specific emphasis on identifying and supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities in the new training programme for early years staff.
• Tripling the early years pupil premium to £1,000 per child.

For childminders specifically, Lib Dems would replace the three different current registration processes with a single childcare register, as well as commission a practitioner-led review to simplify regulation, reduce administrative burdens and attract new childminders while maintaining high standards.

When public finances allow, the party would give disadvantaged two-year-olds an extra five free hours of early years education a week, as another step towards a universal, full-time entitlement for all two- to four-year-olds.

The manifesto also outlines the Lib Dems’ plans to reform Ofsted inspections and end single-word judgements, tackle child poverty, review and reform the Child Maintenance Service, reduce the wait for the first payment of Universal Credit from five weeks to five days and scrap the bedroom tax.

It reiterates previous promises by the party to boost statutory maternity and paternity pay and reform special educational needs provision.

'They seem to have recognised that “fixing childcare” is about more than making big promises to parents'.

Commenting on the manifesto pledges, the Early Education and Childcare Coalition said, ‘There is much to welcome about the Liberal Democrats commitment to early education and childcare. They seem to have recognised that “fixing childcare” is about more than making big promises to parents, and is rather about creating the infrastructure that the sector needs to deliver for families.

‘The manifesto recognises the importance of a workforce strategy, something we have yet to see from other political parties, and yet something which is absolutely fundamental to reforming childcare and delivering for families.

‘The Liberal Democrats’ commitment to reviewing funding rates and making sure that providers costs are covered is exactly what should be happening.’