The Childcare Challenges Facing Starmer’s Government

It is clear that times are changing.

Underscoring this, on Election night Childminder Minister David Johnston lost his seat in Parliament to the Liberal Democrats. He was just one of hundreds of Conservative MPs to be defeated as Kier Starmer’s Labour Party were swept to power in a landslide.

His replacement, whoever they may be, will inherent a full inbox. They will be responsible for rolling out the expanded childcare entitlement, for fixing the recruitment crisis, for negotiating adequate funding with the Treasury and for ensuring that law and policy match the aspirations and ambitions of this vital sector.

This will be no easy task. The new Chancellor, Rachel Reeves has been clear that she will not be raising large amounts of money. Although many expect tax rises beyond the planned VAT on private education and closing the non-dom loophole, increases to income tax and national insurance have been ruled out. That will not leave a lot of leeway for spending increases.

But if there is one thing that both the outgoing and incoming government can agree on it is that childcare is vital to the economy. Labour’s approach may differ - the sector can expect more state intervention, and even competition – but the goal of increasing access to childcare will remain the same. To achieve this, expert advice will be needed.

It is the childcare sector that must offer this advice. No-one knows the challenges better, or what solutions are viable and which aren’t. Moreover, while governments of all stripes tend to concern themselves with short term economics first, it is the childcare sector that can make the case on behalf of the children themselves. In fact this may be the most critical challenge of all. To not just solve the financial and administrative problems that lie ahead, but to do so in a way that really delivers for the nation’s youngest, and perhaps most important citizens.