Watch my speech about improving early years education

High quality early years education is one of the most important investments we can make, not just in children’s development, but in the future of our society.

The early years shape everything that follows, laying the foundations for learning, wellbeing, and opportunity. But too many children are still starting school without the basic skills they need to thrive.

Gaps in communication, language, social development are becoming all too common, and for some children, these gaps created problems that persist throughout their education and beyond. We cannot accept a system where a child’s background determines their chances in life.

In a parliamentary debate this week, I outlined how we can fix early years education, including by investing in the training, development, and career progression of nursery staff, childminders, and early years professionals.