MP Alex Sobel has made a plea to Government for more support for early years settings - claiming they have been ‘thrown to the wolves’ during the latest lockdown.

The MP for Leeds North west, which includes Otley, Yeadon, Pool and Bramhope, spoke for more than eight minutes in Parliament after putting out a request via social media for staff and parents to share their views.

Mr Sobel posted on Otley Our Town and Yeadon Our Community on Monday. Just a day later his survey had received more than 800 responses, with comments from local parents and staff as well as childcare providers from across the country.

In his speech Mr Sobel said: “For parents, reactive, unpredictable and knee-jerk decisions have brought huge anxiety to their families – and many are worried about the effect of another closure, not just for their own working lives but for the psychological effect on their children. But these facts beg important questions. Why is it that the Government recognise the value of early years education only after they have asked staff to go on the front line? Why has almost every other front line worker been promised early vaccination except for these vital members of staff?”

He said: “Jill, an early years teacher in Leeds North West described the risks that she takes every day. She told me 'I’m 56 with a history of cancer and lung problems. My husband is 75 and I am my mum’s support. She’s 85 and hasn’t been vaccinated yet. I’m very worried that contact with so many children who can’t social distance puts myself and my family at risk.' Lindsey a childminder said she feels 'obliged to earn and play her civic part' but is juggling home-schooling four of her own children. She has had to tell them that they cannot visit their father who is on palliative care due to the children she is obliged to invite to their home."

Mr Sobel called for early vaccination of all early years staff, an assurance that next year’s funding would not be based on covid-19 attendance, and enforcement of the guidelines in all settings. He also asked for the science to be published for "every government decision, especially when staff are being asked to work on the front line".

The government has argued that pre-school childcare settings present very little risk and allow more parents to work.

Speaking to MPs on the Education Select Committee earlier this month Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: "I always want to be in a position to ensure that every child can go to school and, as you'll be aware, transmissibility among those who are youngest is very low compared to all of the settings."

“So, when you’re in a position to keep part of the education system open in the early years, I believe it was the right decision to make because so many families really rely on that nursery provision."