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Report from Unicef on children’s well being — Pre-school Learning Alliance comment

NEWS RELEASE

14 February 2007

Report from Unicef on children’s well-being Pre-school Learning Alliance comment

Commenting on findings announced today which reveal that the UK has come bottom of the league of OECD countries, Steve Alexander, Chief Executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance, said:

“Unicef’s findings make alarming reading and reveal that our children are being badly let down.

The early years are the most important time in a child’s social, emotional, behavioural and educational development. With the Comprehensive Spending Review approaching, it is crucial that the spotlight on the early years is not lost and that the early years remains a top government priority. The UK’s bottom ranking on the table gives stark evidence that the investment in supporting children and recognising the role of early years professionals must be increased, or at least maintained, if the early years is to be recognised as the foundation for life.

The Pre-school Learning Alliance has been providing high quality, holistic, child-focused early years care and education for over 40 years. We strongly believe that the primary outcome of early years settings is a child’s overall development and wellbeing. Furthermore we know that reaching out to, and involving parents, in positive supportive ways can help families cope with the pressures of modern living.

It is interesting to note that countries in the higher reaches of the table such as Sweden, Finland and Norway, favour a less formal, play –based approach to early years care and education, an approach which mirrors the Alliance’s ethos of learning through play. Our commitment to this principle as fundamental to a child’s development, alongside our focus on family learning and support, has never been so pertinent.”

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 including our response to the Good Childhood Enquiry, visit our website: www.pre-school.org.uk
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