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The time has come to meet the workforce challenge, says Alliance

NEWS RELEASE

7 September 2004

The time has come to meet the workforce challenge, says Alliance

The Pre-school Learning Alliance today called on Government to address the shortage of childcare workers as a matter of urgency, following the publication of a report by the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee.

The report — Early years: progress in developing high quality childcare and early education accessible to all — concludes that the lack of appropriately trained staff undermines the sustainability of expansion in early years and childcare and highlights the need for all local authorities to work in partnership with colleges and the voluntary sector to provide improved training opportunities for potential childcare staff.

Commenting on the report, Steve Alexander, Chief Executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance said:

"The need to recruit, train and retain a qualified childcare workforce is one of the biggest challenges currently facing the sector. That is why the Alliance's current campaign, Meeting the Workforce Challenge, calls for a new approach to ensure the profession receives the training and investment it deserves. We welcome the recognition by the committee that the estimated shortfall of around 180,000 childcare workers threatens the long-term sustainability of the expansion of affordable childcare. The time has come to meet the workforce challenge, by providing support for all routes to qualifications, improving investment in training and, crucially, establishing an equitable pay and conditions structure to include all early years professionals."

"We also welcome the committee's recommendation that early years programmes be developed for children outside disadvantaged areas. The expansion of programmes to pockets of deprivation outside Sure Start areas is vital to ensure all children and families have access to affordable childcare".

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Andrew Fletcher
Pre-school Learning Alliance
T: 020 7833 0991
Out of hours press calls: 07979 531 130
E: Andrew Fletcher

Notes for Editors:

  1. The Pre-school Learning Alliance has 15,000 member pre-schools who look after 500,000 young children and their families in England every year. Registered as an educational charity, the Alliance is the national dimension of the pre-school movement. Its member pre-schools are based in the community and most are managed and run by parents, alongside trained staff. Meeting the Workforce Challenge is part of the charity's changing lives changing life campaign, which seeks to give all children the best possible start in life. For more information visit www.pre-school.org.uk or call 020 7833 0991
  2. The charity is involved in more Sure Start projects than any other organisation and aims to open around 30 Neighbourhood Nurseries by the end of the year.
  3. Early years: progress in developing high quality childcare and early education accessible to all was published today by the Public Accounts Committee. Further information is available at www.parliament.uk
  4. Further information and all press releases are available on the Pre-school Learning Alliance's website: www.pre-school.org.uk or email pressoffice@pre-school.org.uk
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