All over the country the Single Funding Formula (SFF) is causing problems.

Highly qualified and experienced nursery nurses and early years teachers are being made redundant. EYPs are finding already elusive jobs even harder to find. Managers are spending far too many hours looking at spreadsheets, trying to work out how to cut a bit on catering, lose something on the nappy budget, and maybe defer that bit of redevelopment that would have made continuous provision easier, access for double buggies simpler, and met disability access needs.

This is appalling. The stress, the despair, and the consequent media coverage is understandable. But why is the bigger picture so often being missed?

Let’s look at it a bit differently. The idea of a fair funding framework is not really a problem. The problem is partly how it is applied. Many have spoken about that. But the real question is …

… how much money is going into that framework?

At the moment some with bigger slices of the cake are having their slices very much reduced. The difference is being shared out. But many others, most of whom only ever had tiny slices in the first place, are now only each getting a few extra crumbs as even a seemingly large portion doesn’t go far divided among many.

The real answer, therefore, is that we need a bigger cake.

We need to level up not down.

The SFF seems to be leading towards a place where the lowest common denominator prevails. Aspect has been loudly calling for more recognition for professionals throughout early years, with proper pay scales, real CPD, and meaningful career structures. Many other campaigning groups and unions are also fighting to highlight the low status, pay and recognition of early years workers.

Yet the SFF seems to push in the other direction. Where better salaries have been won now those pay arrangements are under attack. Where staff with higher qualifications, and more professional career paths are in place the settings are cutting back on those high quality leaders or barring other staff from similar progression.

All three political parties have stated their belief in the importance of the early childhood years. Yet when it comes to funding and real hard cash commitment the substance still seems to be lacking.

It is time every one of us throughout early years stands up to demand genuine commitments to match the pledges on tackling disadvantage and supporting quality.

Quality costs. And no degree of careful reallocations of money according to any formula will overcome that basic need for more money, if we are ever to really have high quality staff delivering high quality provision in every setting.