Dame Clare Tickell responds to government announcements on early years care

Following today's speech from Education Minister Liz Truss on changes to early years care, Dame Clare Tickell, Chief Executive of Action for Children and Chair of the Government's Independent Review into the Early Years Foundation Stage, commented:

"It's essential that children receive high quality care at the earliest stages of their life to set them up with the building blocks for their future and help them reach their potential. That's why we welcome today's commitment to invest in a highly skilled workforce, and the recognition that staff should be valued for the vital role that they play. 

"However children must have dedicated one to one time with staff to help them learn and develop, and we would be concerned if this is compromised. This is particularly crucial for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children, who we know can thrive with intensive and tailored support.

"Key to this is having high quality staff who have the time to assess their needs, and offer appropriate care and support as a result. This will help ensure that all our children are on a level playing field as they grow into adults."