News
The impact of £6 billion in cuts and the Programme for Government on early years
16 Jun 2010
As the new Government starts to implement its Programme for Government and tries to reduce public expenditure by £6 billion in 2010/11, some impact will be made on the early years sector.
Sure Start will see some major changes including: cutting of outreach services to fund 4,200 more health visitor positions; a gradual restriction of the service to disadvantaged families; and, in future, a possibility that funding may be tied into results. The Government has said Sure Start funding will be ring-fenced until at least 2011. However, Children and Young People Now has reported, on 15 June 2010, that it has received a leaked email indicating that Sure Start funding may be cut.
The Government is also likely to review and possibly scale back the Criminal Records Bureau’s checking system and the vetting and barring schemes. Also being pushed ahead with is the Conservative’s flagship scheme to allow parents, teachers, charities and community groups to come together to start new schools. Additional policies to be aware of include the Liberal Democrat promise to allocate extra funding for disadvantaged children, which would come from outside the schools budget, and an overhaul of the tax credits system to “reduce fraud and overpayment”.
The Programme for Government says that it will strive for a better gender balance in the early years workforce; tackle the commercialisation and sexualisation of children; and simplify the inspection of school and the regulation of education.
For further information on the Government’s plans see the Programme for Government.
