Early Years Voice Urges CMA to 'Finish the Job' on Funding Investigation

The chair of campaign group Early Years Voice, Ian Morgan, has issued a rallying call to the early years sector to submit evidence to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), warning that the regulator must conduct a "full market investigation" to ensure its recommendations carry weight. Whilst the CMA has confirmed it will examine Government funding within its early years review, Morgan cautions that without comprehensive scrutiny, there is a significant risk that any resulting recommendations will be quietly set aside rather than implemented. The intervention highlights growing concern amongst childcare providers that partial or limited reviews will fail to address systemic underfunding issues. Morgan is encouraging settings, practitioners, and sector representatives to share their experiences with the CMA to ensure the investigation captures the full scale of market pressures affecting early years provision. The CMA's review represents a critical opportunity to examine how Government funding models impact the sustainability of nurseries and childcare settings across the country. For local authorities tasked with securing sufficient early years places, the outcome of this investigation could shape funding settlements and market stability for years to come, making sector engagement vital to securing a fairer funding settlement.