Labour Party fringe event: Childcare and early education: a return on investment

Panel discussion with LabourList

22 September 2024
2:00–3:00pm
Casa Bar, Revolucion de Cuba, Albert Dock, Liverpool L3 4AF (non-secure zone)

Join us to discuss the powerful impact that effective childcare and early education policy can have on child development, the gender pay gap and our economy, and as we explore how Labour can make this a reality.

About this event

Expanded, state-subsidised childcare has gained cross-party support. Progress in this area would go some way to address the UK’s historically low spend on childcare compared to OECD peers. This in turn could deliver a considerable return on investment by supporting more parents, particularly women, to work the hours that they would like to, and to access better paid work.

But real challenges lie ahead in implementation: CPP analysis suggests demand for childcare will rise by 52% by late 2025, requiring 27,800 additional full-time early years professionals in England. Poorer urban areas like the Midlands, Hull and London’s outer boroughs face the greatest challenges.

How can the government respond to these challenges and ensure that childcare policy supports its central mission for growth? Is there room in Labour’s fiscal rules to view childcare as economic infrastructure with funding to match? Under pressure to revive the economy, how quickly can an expanded childcare offer translate into economic growth? And critically, how can Labour ensure its policy supports inclusive growth across the country that reaches families currently excluded from the labour market, not just those already in work?

Speakers for this panel include:

  • Stephen Morgan MP, Minister for Early Education
  • Stella Creasy, MP for Walthamstow
  • Sarah Ronan, Director, Early Education and Childcare Coalition
  • Annabel Smith, Director of Place and Practice, Centre for Progressive Policy
  • Tom Belger, Editor, LabourList (chair)

This event is outside of the secure zone and is open to all, you can either declare an interest in attending or just turn up on the day.

CPP is also hosting an event on how Labour can ensure its mission for growth benefits all places – read more and sign up here.

Speakers

Stephen Morgan MP

Minister for Early Education

Stella Creasy

MP for Walthamstow

Annabel Smith

Director of Place and Practice, Centre for Progressive Policy

Annabel is responsible for the Inclusive Growth Network which supports selected cities and regions across the UK to drive local inclusive growth. This unique network, now in its fourth year, makes the crucial link between national and regional policy, putting inclusive growth into practice for the benefit of places and people. Annabel is widely published and speaks regularly about devolution, inclusive growth, gender and economic policy, and social and regional inequality. Before joining CPP Annabel played a leading role in developing Bristol’s One City Approach where she was Policy Advisor to the Mayor. She is a fellow of the University of Cambridge’s Bennett Institute for Public Policy.

Sarah Ronan

Director, Early Years and Education and Childcare Coalition

Sarah Ronan is Director of the Early Education and Childcare Coalition, a group that represents the interests of parents, children, providers, the early years workforce and the wider business community. The Coalition has been instrumental in building support for early education and childcare and recently published its joint manifesto calling for the rescue and reform of the sector. Sarah previously worked at the Women’s Budget Group, the UK’s leading feminist economics think tank, and led Pregnant Then Screwed’s pandemic response including its high-profile campaigns on childcare and the safety of pregnant women. She sits on the board of Parental Pay Equality, the campaign for equal parental leave for the self-employed.

Tom Belger

Editor, LabourList

Tom Belger is the editor of LabourList, the leading dedicated media platform for all things Labour. He has a keen interest in childcare as the father of a one-year-old. His background is in social affairs journalism, including as a former education journalist at Schools Week.