Early years learning: closing the gap

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/apr/07/early-years-learning-closing-the-gap

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The early years of childhood, the point at which politicians really could make a difference, are at last being taken more seriously at the top of government. But policy objectives remain dangerously confused. On the one hand, as the minister Liz Truss emphasised again on Monday in a speech to the Policy Exchange thinktank, the ambition is to provide high quality care even for two-year-olds, so that every child starts school ready to learn. On the other, there is an ambition to make care affordable and extensive so that parents can work at the hours when work is available.

Both policies are important and worthwhile. It is well known that the best, child-centred early years learning can be a highly effective way of improving social mobility. It can overcome the skills gap between the most deprived and the most advantaged, a gap sometimes as much as 18 months, and one that tends to become entrenched as soon as school starts.

At the same time, the scarcity of good affordable childcare is a major factor in mothers not returning to work, or working only part-time. The inability to work, even for a relatively short period, embeds the gender pay gap and it makes a significant contribution to the number of children living in poverty.

Last week, the chief inspector of schools, Sir Michael Wilshaw, called for much more rigour in the early years environment, horrifying many who think British children are already taught too much, too soon, too formally. It is predictable enough that a former head teacher who runs schools inspections thinks schools are the answer.

Ms Truss wants a highly skilled, socially mobile workforce. But she acknowledged that it is not only teachers who have a part to play. Yet, just as Sir Michael thinks of schools, the minister is a politician who describes success in simple, short-term measures. Her measure of success – to make sure that all children start their formal education from the same place – is a good one. But it won't happen in a single parliamentary term. It needs sustained commitment.

Without it, what money there is will be misdirected. The promised £700m childcare package is spread too widely. Families earning £300,000 do not need a government subsidy. Families in underprovided inner-city areas do. The good news is that when universal credit comes in, up to 85% of childcare costs will be met. The bad news is that they will be funded from elsewhere in the UC budget. There is nothing here to end the inadequate number of childcare places in the poorest parts of the country, nor to improve the standard of care they offer. That's no way to meet Ms Truss's ambition to close the gap. As usual, the government's heart is in labour market economics. It needs to put children first.