Yesterday the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, announced a general election would take place on 4 July. Parliament will be dissolved on 30 May.
While it is likely the party that wins the next election will honor any policies already in place or in motion, it is unclear whether the 30 hours for all children from working families in September 2025 will be introduced as planned.
It comes just weeks after applications opened for parents to apply for the 15 hours of funding for nine-month-olds, effective from September.
Party promises
In March, Labour’s education secretary said the party could not commit to delivering the expanded entitlement, however the following month shadow minister Nick Thomas-Symonds said Labour would not reduce the number of hours of Government-funded childcare.
The party, which has commissioned former Ofsted inspector Sir David Bell to lead a review on early education and childcare, has raised concerns over the sector’s capacity to deliver the full expanded offer.
Sir Keir Starmer has also pledged to boost teacher recruitment and said ending child poverty would be ‘central’, but he couldn’t promise anything.
Former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown and three former education secretaries have urged Sir Keir to bring back Sure Start.
The Liberal Democrats have previously committed to offering 30 hours to children from the age of nine months, and 35 hours of care for deprived children. In an interview with Nursery World, the party’s leader, Ed Davey, confirmed their proposals and said they would fund the hours as a ‘priority’.
The political parties have yet to publish their manifestos, however.
The National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) urged all political parties not to enter into an 'arms race' of promises without a plan of delivery.
Chief executive Purnima Tanuku said,'We have seen in previous elections that parties try to offer more and more funded hours to parents to win votes. This time it's important that political parties fully fund pledges and do not enter into an arms race of promises without a plan for delivery. They must work with the sector on any future plans.’
She added, ‘We knew there had to be an election this year, but an early announcement will give parents and providers a say on national priorities for children’s futures.
‘It’s vital that the next government puts children at the heart of its agenda, focusing on how policy can improve their outcomes and not undermine efforts to drive up quality.'
NDNA said it will publish a sector manifesto in the coming weeks and reminded the sector to sign the petition calling for business rates to be scrapped for early years providers in England ahead of the election.
Chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, Neil Leitch, commented, ‘There is no doubt that the general election comes at a critical time for the sector. Not only is it in the midst of the biggest expansion of Government-funded hours in years, but it continues to grapple with a litany of challenging including sustained and severe underfunding and a staffing exodus.
‘Whichever party is in government next, they must lead the way in prioritising and valuing the sector and put forward a long-term plan which puts the needs of the child at its heart and includes realistic long-term funding, and a workforce plan that both addresses the sector’s severe recruitment and retention crisis.’
Education must be a 'priority'
Teaching unions have called for education to be made a priority for the next Government, including action on underfunding, primary school class sizes, recruitment and retention of teachers and reform to the special educational needs and disabilities system.
The National Education union’s (NEU) general secretary Daniel Kebede said, ‘Fourteen years of neglect and underfunding have left education – from early years through to post-16 – in tatters. It is imperative that all political parties address this in their manifestos. Not in vague terms, with piecemeal solutions. But with meaningful proposals about how this situation will be reversed if they form the next Government.’
The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) has launched its manifesto outlining key issues for the next Government.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary, commented, ‘For too long, children’s education has been sidelined. Over the coming weeks of the election campaign, NAHT will be vociferous in championing the interests of the next generation, and advocating for the teaching profession.
‘Crises in recruitment and retention, special educational needs and our school buildings are growing out of control.’
The Prime Minister is now expected to tour the country, while Labour leader, Keir Starmer, is to visit key election areas in the south-east where the Conservatives have historically held seats.
Following the announcement of the election, 100 MPs have stood down, including the former Prime Minister Theresa May and ex-chancellor Nadhim Zahawi, who previously held the role of children and families minister.
