Opinion: To the point - Helping two-year-olds

Gordon Brown's announcement of more free early education and childcare for two- year-olds is a serious attempt to develop early years policy, yet it strikes a bit of a duff note.

The Prime Minister is known for combining seriousness with awkwardness, and I have my own personal memory of walking round a nursery school garden with him, talking about Sure Start, when he suddenly decided to stand in the middle of the sandpit. His shiny shoes scuffed by the sand, he stood there for about half an hour with his advisors, talking about the importance of Sure Start and showing an impressive grasp of detail. A small number of children tried to carry on playing, and then gave up.

Somehow Brown has managed to strike a similarly paradoxical note with his latest promise on early education and childcare. By taking the tax subsidy out of the nursery voucher system and using it to fund free provision, he is surely moving in the right direction. The policy of funding so much of the expansion of early years provision through tax credits and rebates has proved very complex, and has surely benefited better-off families more than those in poverty. Though it sounds old-fashioned to say so, I prefer state services that are free to all.

But the more fundamental question, perhaps, is not whether anyone is making money out of the welfare state, but whether it is helping families and the country as a whole. To date, there are few indications that expanding nursery education and care to two-year-olds is beneficial. This year's major review of the impact of the Early Education Pilot for Two-Year-Olds found the cognitive and social development of children in the pilot scarcely differed from those who stayed at home. To be blunt, it was money down the drain.

The report does, however, make a case for good-quality early years provision, which probably does benefit two-year-olds. Unfortunately, good quality is still in short supply, and families living in poor areas are most disadvantaged. Ofsted concluded in 2008, 'Children and families living in areas already experiencing relative deprivation face further inequity because they have less access to high-quality childcare provision'. While it is laudable to attempt to expand the quantity of places for young children, wouldn't it be better to start by improving the quality?

- Julian Grenier is the head of Kate Greenaway Nursery School and Children's Centre, London.