New report launched on Early Years Education and Childcare System in West Yorkshire
The Yorkshire & Humber Policy Engagement and Research Network (Y-PERN) and West Yorkshire Combined Authority have published a report on the Early Years and childcare system in West Yorkshire.
The report was written by Y-PERN Policy Fellow Dr Tom Haines-Doran (Leeds University Business School) and a research team comprising Karen Arzate Quintanilla, Dr Lilith Brouwers, Dr Jo Burgess, Dr Amiee Code, Dr Amy Creaser, Dr Erin Dysart, Dr Jack Simpson and Dr Claire Smithson.
The research was developed in response to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Local Growth Plan, which identified early years education and high-quality childcare provision as key enabling policy areas for an inclusive economy, performing a dual role for families by:
1. Transforming the life chances of children through high-quality early years education, reducing entrenched inequalities at the earliest opportunity.
2. Enabling greater parental and carer participation in the labour market, especially for women, through affordable and available childcare.
The research brings together national and regional evidence and taking a systems mapping approach for the West Yorkshire Early Years Education and Childcare sector.
Dr Tom Haines-Doran said: “The findings show that the Early Years Education and Childcare sector in West Yorkshire is led by providers, their workforce and Local Authorities that are exceptionally dedicated to the education and care of children and their families.
“However, the research also found that providers and key stakeholders face considerable challenges in a very complex system.”
Affordability for parents remains an issue despite increasing funding entitlements, as does navigating the entitlements, financial support and local availability of places.
Current funding entitlement for childcare disproportionately benefits higher earning families. Families on the lowest incomes are seeing virtually no direct benefit from increased entitlements because entitlements focus on families with working parents and some providers target wealthier areas for expansion.
The Y-PERN research report offers new insights into how West Yorkshire Combined Authority can best support the revitalisation of the Early Years Education and Childcare sector, alongside Local Authorities and providers.
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “I welcome this first of its kind report from the Yorkshire and Humber Policy Engagement and Research Network, and we are already taking action to respond to the recommendations.
“The evidence is clear – our early years sector in West Yorkshire and across the country is facing significant challenges, and we must take action now to address the concerns of a workforce that is undervalued and underpaid, and of families who deserve consistent and high quality childcare services.
“Faced with unprecedented funding pressures, our councils cannot be asked to meet this challenge alone. Devolution is the green shoot of hope that can empower our region to invest in the early years workforce we need, to set our children on a path to success and sow the seeds of a stronger, brighter West Yorkshire.
“We have commissioned a regional workforce plan for early years education that will enable us to tackle the urgent challenges around recruitment and retention head-on, and we are flexing our adult skills funding to deliver training, development and progression opportunities within the sector.
“But we have so much further to go, and we will continue to work alongside the sector, our councils and the government to make sure that our great region has the powers and funding it needs to build an Early Years Education and Childcare system that works for both parents and practitioners.”
For the full news piece, visit the Y-PERN website.
Read the report: The Early Years Education and Childcare system in West Yorkshire.
