Chapter 11: Social Innovation in Early Childhood Education and Care in England: The Case of Portsmouth

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) in England is provided to children from birth to the age of five. Nursery provision is delivered as a mixed market economy partly financed by the government, with the remainder paid by stakeholders and/or families. Political changes over the past 20 years have resulted in significant shifts in the levels of support given to nursery provision and to children and their families, and the universal support that was once provided has become fragmented. COVID-19 lockdowns and global factors have brought a number of key challenges to the surface including financial sustainability for nursery provision and beyond, the development of young children's emotional and communication skills, children's ability to socialise and play, and how to support the families who are experiencing the most financial and social need. This is set against a backdrop of Portsmouth, a city of contrasts with both affluent and low socioeconomic status areas and diverse family needs. This chapter explores steps taken by two charity and voluntary organisations to support young children and their families and the ways in which these organisations take a socially innovative approach when working with very young children. The chapter reports on how these organisations provide approaches that bridge the gaps left by state retrenchment and shows how these local innovations can support young children to develop, learn and thrive, complementing existing nursery provision.