Our goal is for the early years sector to provide the foundations for children to have happy, healthy and successful lives, and to enable parents to work. The sector has some challenges in common with our other sectors but it faces a different local and systemic context. We are interested in evidence that will help us enable a healthy and sustainable early years market which maximises the valuable outcomes of the sector.
If you would like to discuss previous, ongoing or potential research into any of the areas in this document, please contact research.engagement@education.gov.uk.
This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:
Families benefit from childcare. The availability of affordable childcare is a major influence on women's ability to take up paid work. According to the Equality and Human Rights Commission, 'Helping families to combine ...
Funded by: ESRC
Lead research organisation: University College London
This project fully addresses the question by examining the provision and use of preschool childcare in Britain, including the workforce qualifications and informal care provided by grandparents.
The UK government spends billions of pounds a year to ensure that all 3 and 4 year olds have access to childcare and early education for 15 hours a week, 38 weeks a year. There is ongoing debate about whether (and by how...
Funded by: ESRC
Lead research organisation: University of Essex
This project fully addresses the question by analyzing the effects of free childcare provision on maternal and childhood outcomes in the UK, using various instances of exogenous variation.
Early Years (EY) childcare is critical to the UK economy and society given its positive impact on child development and wellbeing. Without the provision of formal and informal childcare, parents will not be able to retur...
Funded by: COVID
Lead research organisation: University of Leeds
This project fully addresses the question by investigating the impact of COVID-19 on the provision of Early Years childcare in England and Wales, addressing challenges related to sustainability, safety, and changes in childcare provision.