The Family and Childcare Trust’s report Academisation and early years education finds that primary academies are currently about as likely to achieve a ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ Ofsted rating for the childcare they provide as maintained schools. Neither is more likely to have early years provision within the school.

Almost a quarter of primary schools in England are now academies, with 72,000 children estimated to be receiving early education in primary academies.  However, as an increasing number of schools convert to academies, the study raises concerns that local authorities and Regional Schools Commissioners may struggle to offer effective oversight and support (1).

The study further warns that the different freedoms, financial arrangements and levels of oversight between academies and maintained schools could result in a two-tier system, as providers face funding pressures and changes to the free early education entitlement roll out (2).

Given the scale of change ahead, it is important to pay closer attention to early education in academies.

The Family and Childcare Trust is urging the Department for Education to:

• Closely monitor early education in primary academies to make sure the quality and availability of places is not negatively affected in the future by increases in primary academies.
• Introduce a Chief Early Years Officer who will work with government to improve the quality and availability of childcare.

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