My positive and productive meeting with Minister Paul Waugh
NDNA’s CEO Tim McLachlan:
I had my first meeting with the new Education Minister Paul Waugh MP and his senior officials today (Tuesday 28 July) which was both positive and productive.
I began by introducing him to NDNA as the UK’s national membership organisation for PVI nurseries. I reiterated that early education had been a key priority for Government and we were hoping that would continue and be reflected in his title which has not yet been confirmed.
I gave him a quick summary of the current issues facing the sector, including local authority variances in delivery of the funded hours and what solutions we have for that.
We also discussed recent unhelpful and misleading government communications to parents about the funded hours and he agreed that pitching parents against providers was not in anybody’s best interests.
Minister Waugh understands the crucial role that PVI nurseries play and wants to be promoting the good work you do. He is keen to work in partnership with nurseries across the sector with the common aim of supporting children and families. He wants to have a productive open relationship with NDNA and the sector, which is very welcome.
Workforce and capacity is another huge challenge. He is keen to listen and understands that nurseries have had to cope with a lot of changes over the past few months and years.
We also discussed NDNA’s early intervention programme Maths Champions which is a continuing success, with thousands more early years settings signing up to the programme which the DfE funds. Minister Waugh thanked us for that work and added that maths was a subject which was particularly dear to him and his family.
This week I have sent three letters to:
- Minister Waugh – reiterating our points above
- Secretary of State for Education Lucy Powell
- Chancellor John Healey
The letter to the Secretary of State explains the work of the NDNA and PVI providers. It also explains the issues of links between PVI providers and schools, hourly rates for three and four-year-olds and the unequal offer for free school meals between schools and PVI providers.
In the letter to the Chancellor I ask for relief on business rates in line with the recent news on pubs, clubs and music venues. Welsh and Scottish nurseries already get this relief, but English nurseries currently do not.
Update 11 August
Today the Department for Education confirmed that Paul Waugh is now officially Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Early Education).
Having campaigned for greater recognition of this crucial stage in a child’s life, we are pleased that this reflects the Government’s ongoing commitment to children’s outcomes.
Mr Waugh’s new title and ministerial responsibilities are listed here https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/parliamentary-under-secretary-of-state–256
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