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Children's Bill A 'move in the right direction'

NEWS RELEASE

4 March 2004

Children's Bill - A 'move in the right direction'

The Pre-school Learning Alliance, the largest voluntary sector provider of pre-school education and childcare in England, today welcomed the publication of the Government's Children's Bill.

The Bill, which follows the Department for Education and Skills' Green Paper, Every Child Matters, was published today.

Judith Thompson, Chair of the Pre-school Learning Alliance said:

"The Bill is a move in the right direction to secure universal early years services and we welcome the commitment to put children and their parents at the centre of reform. We are particularly encouraged by the emphasis on integrated services and information sharing, the focus on clear accountability and the recognition that the voluntary sector has a key role to play in helping to give every child the best start in life".

"Fully integrated services can only be realised through extensive and open consultation at local level, so that provision reflects and meets the childcare needs of communities. What works in one area, may not be appropriate in another. Integrated services should build on what is already present, so that no existing provision is lost. This will require a creative and imaginative approach to strategic development. The Alliance, with its long experience of working in partnership with local authorities, latterly through Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships can make a substantial contribution to developing new structures that work for children and their families".

"To make the integrated services envisaged in this Bill a reality on the ground, a fully trained, well motivated workforce is essential. The new Children's Workforce Unit to look at remuneration and incentives for early years workers is a most welcome development and it must, as a matter of urgency, address recruitment and retention issues, in order to ensure sustainable, effective provision".

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. 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.
  2. The Children's Bill was published today. It follows the Department for Education and Skills' Green Paper, Every Child Matters, published in November 2003.
  3. The charity recently launched the next phase of its 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
  4. Pre-school Learning Alliance members receive a regular magazine (Under Five) reflecting issues affecting the early years sector. If you would like to receive a copy of this please call 020 7833 0991.
  5. 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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