About us
The Early Education and Childcare Coalition unites the voices of all those with a stake in the future of early education and care - children, parents, providers, the early education workforce, and the wider business community.
Why is a Coalition needed?
The Early Education and Childcare Coalition was developed in response to the growing pressures facing the sector and families. Continued underfunding, rising costs, and workforce pressures created a growing need for collaboration among all those impacted by the crisis in early education and childcare.
Members of the Early Education and Childcare Coalition know that the complexity of policy in this area means that no single organisation can address the challenges alone, or effectively advocate for the many different voices within the system. That requires collaboration and partnership in the form of coalition working.
The Spring Budget in March 2023 recognised the importance of the sector in underpinning the economy, but proposals failed to address the underlying structural and funding crises that have become a hallmark of recent policymaking. We want to change that.
How was the Coalition formed?
The Early Education and Childcare Coalition was built over a period of 12 months and launched in 2023. Together we are using our collective voice, influence, and resources to drive public and political support for the sector.
The Coalition is hosted by the Women’s Budget Group, the UK’s leading feminist economics think tank, and funded by the Kiawah Trust, a charitable foundation that supports initiatives to tackle educational and gender inequality.
The Coalition has been co-designed with 30 organisations including children’s charities, parent campaign groups, provider membership bodies, anti-poverty campaigners, NGOs, trade unions representing early educators, and business lobbying groups.
We advocate for a ‘rescue and reform’ approach: short-term measures that will stabilise the sector now, alongside a national programme of reform and investment.
We are supported by a range of experts from across educational and economic policy, and partner with think tanks and research organisations who share our aims.
Early education and childcare in England
£14,000
average cost of a full-time place for a two-year-old in England
84%
of providers are finding it difficult to recruit new staff
Sources: Coram, EYA
Our vision
High quality provision for all children, especially those who benefit the most
Sustainable provision that works for all kinds of working parents and their employers
Good pay, terms and conditions for the professionals who deliver it
Accessible and affordable options for all parents, in all communities
Locally-shaped options that respond to local circumstances