Why higher funding is the cornerstone of a sustainable early years sector

Early years settings in England face a simple math problem. Most government-funded early education and childcare places are underfunded, particularly those for three- and four-year olds, making it nearly impossible for providers to raise wages without increasing fees or cutting quality. Let’s break it down: 1️⃣ Funding doesn’t match delivery costsThe DfE’s own data (e.g. the …