Letter on Early Years Development and Support Services

The coronavirus pandemic exacerbated staff shortages in the early years sector, particularly in nurseries.

Some early years staff were forced to find other forms of employment during the pandemic and did not return to the sector. As a result, nurseries are struggling to meet demand from parents.

An investigation by the London Assembly Health Committee into the impact of the pandemic on early years services and early childhood development heard that there are skills gaps across the sector, which the Mayor could help address.

The Committee has today written to the Mayor calling for a London-wide campaign to encourage more people, particularly young men, to work in the early years sector.

The Committee is also calling for more research into the long-term impact on the development of those who were aged 0-5 during the pandemic, to determine whether more targeted support is required for this age group.

The Committee outlines five recommendations in its letter to the Mayor, including:

• The Mayor, in consultation with the Greater London Authority’s (GLA) early years stakeholder group, should carry out a London-wide campaign to encourage more people, particularly young men, to work in the early years sector.
• The Mayor should work with the NHS and other partners to conduct necessary research to understand the long-term impact on young children in London and determine whether ongoing targeted support is required to address developmental delay for this cohort.
• The Mayor, in consultation with the GLA’s early years stakeholder group, should identify where the main skills gaps are in the early years sector and target Adult Education Budget funding in these areas.

Chair of the London Assembly Health Committee, Krupesh Hirani AM, said:

“COVID-19 lockdowns had a significant impact on all of us, but children were among those who suffered most, with facilities closed and socialisation outside of the family home severely limited.

“As the first five years of a child’s life is a vital period for their long-term development, we wanted to understand how children have been impacted by the pandemic and what action the Mayor can take to support young Londoners.

“We are concerned by staff shortages and glaring skills gaps in early years settings, given how important these services will be in supporting children who faced developmental delays during the pandemic.

“A London-wide staffing campaign would help to ensure we have the early years staff needed to adequately support Generation COVID and we hope that the Mayor undertakes this as a matter of urgency.”