The government must step up to give early years pupils the best start in life

‘Providers are facing huge pressures to continue to deliver outstanding quality to our children, and yet those in the private, voluntary and independent sector continue to receive next to no support from central government.’ Photograph: Roger Askew/Alamy

I read with interest your report on recent research from the Department for Education and Durham University on the importance of the early years to the future earnings of children in England (Good early years teaching may boost earnings of children in England – study, 26 January).

As chair of the all-party parliamentary group for childcare and early education, and as the husband of an early years practitioner, I know that we only have one chance to give all children the best possible start in life. It is encouraging to see the Department for Education taking this seriously, but more must be done to ensure the infrastructure is there to deliver it, starting with funding.