National Day Nursery Association (NDNA) launched its early education and care sector manifesto Make the First Five Years Count today putting children at the centre of its priorities.

In this manifesto, NDNA outlined its child-centric approach so the next government understands how essential this sector is for children’s development and for the economy in enabling parents to work.

It also states the unique challenges facing early education and care providers as they prepare to deliver the second phase in the current funded entitlement expansion. From September children aged nine months and upwards from working families can take up 15 hours of funded childcare per week during term time.

NDNA consulted widely with its members and the sector to set out these priorities for the next government based on the significant challenges the early years sector is facing. To make the first five years count for all our young children, they must focus immediately on:

• An early education and care system that’s child-centric, delivering high-quality provision
• A funding system that works for all children, families and providers
• A system that values and invests in the early years workforce
• A regulatory framework that is fit for purpose and proportionate

The early years organisation also noted the main areas early years providers ranked as their biggest challenges in delivering high-quality early education and care to children and the top five issues were:

• Funding
• Staffing
• Supporting children with additional needs
• Business rates and VAT
• Ofsted.

Purnima Tanuku OBE, chief executive of NDNA said: “It’s vital that not only the new Government but all those who are elected into Parliament understand the significance of child development and support the amazing work that early education and care providers do every day.

“Our manifesto was developed for the sector by the sector through extensive research and consultation, which demonstrates the difference that high quality early education and care makes to children’s lives, their families and the economy. Private, voluntary and independent nurseries play a vital role in delivering the majority of high quality early education and care places in the country.

“But the manifesto also makes it clear that the challenges they face are significant, including the workforce crisis and a funding rate that doesn’t cover the costs for the vast majority of providers.

“These policy principles and solutions must be incorporated in any future government policy which will impact on children, families, the whole sector and the economy.”

NDNA’s election toolkit also includes a round-up of main party pledges that will impact on the early education and care sector; a template letter for providers to send to their local candidates and an interactive map with key data such as funding rates and nursery closures. Providers and parliamentary candidates will be able to use this interactive map to access the key data in their local constituency. There is also a sector factsheet giving key early education and care sector statistics.

Purnima added: “We urge all providers, practitioners and parents to widely share this toolkit to highlight the importance of early years to all party candidates.”

The toolkit and manifesto can be found at https://ndna.org.uk/manifesto/