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DCFS announces 4bn for Sure Start, Early Years and Childcare Pre-school Learning Alliance response

NEWS RELEASE

2 August 2007

DCFS announces 4bn for Sure Start, Early Years and Childcare - Pre-school Learning Alliance response

Responding to today’s announcement by the Minister for Children, Young People and Families, Beverley Hughes that a cash injection of more than £4bn will go to children’s centres, early years education and childcare over the next three years, Steve Alexander, Chief Executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance said,

“No-one can doubt the Government’s long-term commitment to the early years – the foundation for life. However, in the past year increasing numbers of childcare providers across the sector have been highlighting concerns about their long-term sustainability as they strive to implement the Ten Year Strategy, provide universal, flexible childcare and accommodate year-on-year rising costs.

The announcement today of such a substantial amount indicates the Government is listening and responding to providers’ concerns. We believe that the potential of this funding to significantly improve sure start early years and childcare will depend on whether it is from a new revenue source or whether it comprises existing childcare subsidies already earmarked for the sector.

For we believe the priority now is not the creation of new provision, but safeguarding and sustaining existing important services reaching the most disadvantaged families – services which are struggling under existing levels of subsidy.

We are heartened to see the sum of £175 million earmarked for private voluntary and independent providers as recognition of the valuable role played by this sector of the market. For, despite having an 89% share of the children’s nursery market, the PVI sector has not been fully engaged in the process of delivering the children’s centre agenda so far. Again we reiterate our call for long-term funding to support PVI providers to meet the additional costs associated with delivering the universal offer and extension, workforce development and the implementation of the Early Years Foundation Stage.

We know that free market principles won’t deliver universal childcare. To meet this goal, not only does the Government need to be committed to on-going substantive supply-side funding, it also needs to ensure that when it intervenes in the market it does so in ways which support, rather than threaten, business models and economies of scale.”

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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