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NEWS RELEASE

12 March 2008

Pre-school Learning Alliance welcomes Budget '08 but urges government to invest in childcare and safeguard choices for families

The Pre-school Learning Alliance welcomes measures announced in the Budget to alleviate child poverty, but stressed that substantial investment was still needed to secure quality affordable childcare and enable families - particularly those living in areas of low income and high unemployment — to benefit fully from pursuing work or training opportunities.

The Alliance is also concerned that the additional tax burden and the removal of the lower tax band of 10% will further penalise those families where the amount of net disposable income is critical. Furthermore, the introduction of variable penalties on housing benefits depending on employment status seems punitive on those parents who have made a decision to stay at home with their young children.

Steve Alexander, Chief Executive of the Alliance said,

"As the largest voluntary sector provider of childcare in England supporting the most "hard to each" families through our directly run nurseries and our member pre-schools, we are acutely aware of the factors which affect take-up and capacity, and impact on childcare providers' costs. Only recently the Commons Select Committee on Work and Pensions recommended substantial investment in childcare in order to tackle child poverty. Providers are striving to deliver quality childcare, but many are currently struggling to meet costs and accommodate positive interventions such as the flexible free entitlement and its extension, and the measures to drive up quality. The ability of parents to pay more for this care is no longer an option.

While recognising the key role of childcare in alleviating poverty, the Alliance is also keen that families, particularly those with very young children, are supported, and not penalised, in choosing to balance a mix of work, sessional childcare and family life."

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Kate Summerside
Pre-school Learning Alliance
T: 020 7697 2502
Out of hours press calls: 07956 499621
E: Kate Summerside

Notes for Editors:

  1. The Pre-school Learning Alliance is the largest voluntary sector provider of quality affordable childcare and education in England.
  2. Through direct provision and its membership of 15,000 nurseries, sessional pre-schools and parent and toddler groups, the Alliance supports over 800,000 children and their families in England. The Alliance also develops and runs family learning programmes, offers information and advice, runs acclaimed training and accreditation programmes and campaigns to influence early years policy and practice.
  3. For information about the Pre-school Learning Alliance, visit our website: www.pre-school.org.uk
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