Commenting on Coram's annual Childcare Survey 2026, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said;
“The early years are a critically important stage of children’s education and must be accessible to all families. Yet inclusion has not been afforded to many of the youngest, most vulnerable children, especially those with emerging and identified SEND.
‘Investing in the early years reaps the biggest benefits. Yet restrictive eligibility criteria and a lack of suitable places have effectively shut these children out from accessing provision with specialist early years educators, who have the skills, training and networks in health services that can transform their life chances.
‘The government must take the report’s findings and recommendations seriously and invest in Maintained Nursery Schools (MNS), many whose futures remain under threat. MNS have the expertise to provide high quality, integrated early education and care delivered alongside health services so that all aspects of the youngest children’s development can be supported. They are also uniquely placed to share this expertise with other early education and childcare providers so that all children in their local communities can benefit.
‘The government must invest in and expand the offer of MNS provision to ‘close the gap’ between the most disadvantaged children and their peers and best support our next generation”.