When the Commons Education Select Committee announced its next inquiry would focus on the early years sector, we hoped it would provide an ideal opportunity for providers, and families, to share the impact that years of underfunding, and an overall lack of government support, have had on the sector.

Crucially, however, it was absolutely vital that the noise surrounding the inquiry, and the subsequent report, would force the government to sit up and take action.

After all, in the same month the inquiry was launched, Ofsted figures showed that the number of early years providers in England had fallen by 10 per cent in the last four years.

What we did not predict, however, was that since the inquiry’s launch, not only would the government promise “free” early years places for children aged nine months onwards by September 2025, but it would fail to back this up with sufficient funding and support for the sector.

Clearly, a spotlight on the sector was needed more than ever.

Welcome recommendations

So, when the committee’s report arrived in my inbox earlier this week, I was eager - and admittedly slightly anxious - to read their observations and recommendations.

Yet, on reading their findings, it’s clear that the committee understands the early years sector is facing a crisis.

Its overall conclusion that the government should increase entitlement funding for providers is hugely welcomed, both when looking at the survival of the sector in terms of the existing 30-hour offer and the upcoming expansion over the next few years.

It is also positive to see that the committee has recognised the disconnect between how crucial early educators are and how they have been valued.

Early educators are the heart - and as the committee rightly states, the “lifeblood” - of the early years.

Were it not for their dedication, passion and drive - in recent years especially - the sector would be a shell of what it is today.

But that doesn’t take away from the fact that, time and time again, the sector is dismissed as babysitters when they are as much an educator as primary and secondary school teachers.

As a result, bringing the early years in line with other parts of the education sector when it comes to pay, career development and recognition is crucial, not just in attracting and retaining staff but in making them feel valued and motivated to progress in the sector.

While passion for the early years is key, any assumption that this is enough to keep the sector going is misguided, unacceptable and completely trivialises the great work educators do on a daily basis.

Clearly, there are many things in the report to be positive about but, admittedly, there are instances where the committee should have gone further.

Ratio concerns needed to go further

One of these is the committee’s recommendation to monitor the impact of ratio changes, which gives group-based settings the option to relax them from 1:4 to 1:5 from September.

It is simply not good enough to wait until the changes are in place, and quality has been affected, for the changes to be reversed. Our own research shows that it is set to be a disaster, so why wait, and waste more time and money, to confirm the inevitable?

We are right to be sceptical about the committee’s suggestion to monitor the progress of the ratio changes.

After all, the government’s own consultation on the changes showed overwhelming opposition against the changes from both families and providers, yet this was completely disregarded by the government. Why should this time be any different?

In addition, the recommendation to change the wording for “free” places with “funded” or “subsidised” also raises some questions.

While it was right for the committee to identify that calling the early entitlement offers “free” is misleading, replacing it with “funded” or “subsidised” entirely removes the onus on the government to properly fund early years places - something which it has promised to deliver since the policy’s introduction.

Now is the time for action

That said, overall, it was refreshing to read that, in the majority of cases, the committee both understood how severe the challenges are in the early years sector and the extent of work that is needed.

A long-term plan for the sector is urgently needed, both to futureproof the sector and ensure that every child, regardless of their background, has the choice to benefit from early years care and education.

Of course, it is one thing for the Commons Education Select Committee to highlight that the sector needs more funding and support to survive, but it will be a complete waste of time if the government disregards the findings.

After all, while we welcome the committee’s focus on the early years, should its findings be really that surprising?

It doesn’t take a genius to see that the early years sector is facing its most challenging time in decades, with shockingly low levels of funding and recognition.

We know that if the government had listened to the early years sector - the experts - on what is needed to enable the sector to both survive and thrive, then it would not have gotten to this stage.

Despite this, the fate of the early years sector is far from set in stone, but, crucially, it hinges on the government’s willingness to take these changes forward quickly and effectively.

Neil Leitch is the chief executive of the Early Years Alliance