Leading childcare charities debate childcare and child poverty
NEWS RELEASE
31 August 2007
Leading childcare charities debate childcare and child poverty
The UK’s leading childcare charities are holding public meetings at the forthcoming party conferences to highlight the issue of child poverty and how high-quality and affordable childcare can help to address it.
Beverley Hughes MP – Minister of State for Children, Young People and Families, Maria Miller MP – Conservative Shadow Minister for Family Welfare and Annette Brooke MP – Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Children, Young People and Families are all taking part in fringe meetings at their party conferences. The fringe meetings are organised jointly by 4Children, Daycare Trust, National Childminding Association (NCMA), National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) and Pre-school Learning Alliance. The meetings are supported by the London Development Agency.
The Coalition will also have a presence at the TUC conference where they will host a round table breakfast on 11 September at the TUC.
Together the charities represent parents, carers and 350,000 childcare workers across the UK who are collectively responsible for the care of nearly one and a half million children.
Kevin Daly from Goldman Sachs, an expert on the economics of childcare, said:
“Women in many countries are effectively faced with the choice of either working or having children (because the tax and benefits system penalises second household earners and because childcare is expensive). In countries where it is relatively easy for women to combine work with having children, female employment and fertility both tend to be higher, while childhood poverty is lower.”
Annette Brooke MP will be speaking on 19 September and says:
“Giving our children the best start in life is of utmost importance.The issue of whether quality childcare can actually alleviate child poverty is one of great importance. Increasing access to universal quality childcare services can help to break the cycle of poverty by increasing engagement in formal childcare and support services for all families from an early age.”
Beverley Hughes MP will be speaking on 23 September and comments:
“Tackling child poverty is a top priority for this government. Our ten year childcare strategy will increase the availability of flexible, affordable, high quality childcare, helping parents to balance work and family life and giving young children the best possible start in life. We know that work is the best route out of poverty, and childcare has a huge role to play here — enabling parents to work — so that their children have more access to opportunities and resources. Furthermore, it's also important to emphasise that high quality care and education in the early years can help break inter-generational cycles of poverty through its impact on children’s wider development.”
Maria Miller MP will be speaking on 2 October and comments:
"The early years of a child's life can set the foundations for the future. Good quality childcare has a pivotal role to play in helping ensure children are given the best start in life and also providing wider support for the family. If childcare is to realise its potential as an important part of a nation wide strategy to reduce child poverty then it is vitally important that there is access for even the most hard to reach groups in our communities."
Denise Burke, Head of Childcare at London Development Agency, adds:
“The London Development Agency and the Mayor's Childcare Strategy for London acknowledges that quality affordable childcare is key to ending child poverty. Childcare that meets the needs of all families is crucial in helping parents access training and work breaking the cycle of worklessness and giving children a better start in 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:
For more information about the fringe meetings or to arrange an interview with the LDA or any of the charities featured in this press release please contact Louise Banks at National Childminding Association at louise.banks@ncma.org.uk or 020 8290 2519. Please note that all the fringe events are taking place within the secure area at the Party Conferences and attendees will need to have a security pass to attend.
The fringe meetings will take place on:
Roundtable event TUC Conference Tuesday 11 September, 8.00pm Hilton Brighton Metropole.
Speakers include: Christina McAnea, TUC, Kevin Daly, Goldman Sachs, Samira Ahmed, Channel 4 news, and Cordell Pillay. NAPO
Liberal Democrat: Wednesday 19 September at 1pm, Holiday Inn Brighton — Seafront, Brighton.
Speakers include, Yvonne Roberts, Guardian Journalist and Annette Brooke MP. The event will be chaired by Margaret Lochrie, Director of Capacity
Labour: Sunday 23rd September at 6pm, Royal Bath Hotel, Bournemouth
Speakers include Beverley Hughes MP, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families and Alexandra Frean, Education Editor of the Times The event will be chaired by Patrick Diamond, Director of International think tank, Policy Network.
Conservative: Tuesday 2 October 12.30pm, Imperial Hotel, Blackpool
Speakers include Maria Miller MP, Shadow Minister for Family Welfare, Denise Burke from the London Development Agency and Cathy Wallace, Deputy News Editor, Children and Young People Now magazine. The event will be chaired by Carey Oppenheim
About the participating organisations
London Development Agency (LDA) The Mayor launched the London Childcare Strategy in November 2003. The delivery agent for the Strategy is the LDA, which is also the lead Regional Development Agency for childcare. The LDA has committed over £16 million investment for childcare programmes 2006/07
www.lda.gov.uk
4Children is the national charity dedicated to creating opportunities and building futures for all children. A child centred and family focused organisation dedicated to the care, education and personal development of children, 4Children aspires to ensure that all children, young people and families have access to a creative, safe and child focused environment, and activities. For more information on 4Children call 020 7512 2100
www.4Children.org.uk
Daycare Trust is the national childcare charity, campaigning for quality affordable childcare for all and raising the voices of children, parents and carers. We advise parents and carers, providers, employers, trade unions and policy makers on childcare issues. Our childcare information line is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 10am-5pm.
www.daycaretrust.org.uk
National Childminding Association (NCMA), is a charity and professional association. We believe every child should reach their full potential and, since 1977, have worked with registered childminders, nannies as well as other individuals and organisations, such as local and national government, to ensure families in every community in England and Wales have access to high quality home-based childcare, play, learning and family support.
www.ncma.org.uk
National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) is a national charity representing children’s day nurseries across the UK, giving them information, training and support, so they can provide the best possible care to young children. NDNA is the voice of the sector, an integral part of the lives of nearly one million children and their families.
www.ndna.org.uk
The Pre-school Learning Alliance is the largest voluntary sector provider of quality affordable childcare and education in England. The Alliance offers professional and practical support to over 15,000 early years settings and nearly 800,000 young children and their families every year. The Alliance runs children's centres and nurseries, sessional care and family learning programmes and is a major partner and contributor to the Sure Start programme. The organisation also offers information and advice, runs acclaimed training and accreditation programmes and campaigns to influence policy and practice.
www.pre-school.org.uk