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Alliance welcomes details of Transformation Fund allocation, but encourages long term, sustained investment in the Early Years workforce

NEWS RELEASE

13 February 2006

Alliance welcomes details of Transformation Fund allocation, but encourages long term, sustained investment in the Early Years workforce

The Pre-school Learning Alliance today welcomed the publication of the Government’s response to the Children’s Workforce Strategy consultation and details of how the Transformation Fund will be allocated.

The publication summarises the key responses and sets out the next stage of the Government’s workforce reform agenda. It also provides a steer on how the Transformation Fund, announced in the ten-year strategy, will be allocated.

Commenting on the publication, Steve Alexander, Chief Executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance said

“I am pleased the next phase has been published without delay and that we have a clearer idea of how the Transformation Fund will be allocated. I am particularly pleased that the Fund will not simply be utilised to attract graduates as new entrants, but to support existing practitioners to gain new qualifications. It is crucial that, in the quest to raise qualification levels, we do not create a two tier workforce where new entrants are seen as superior to existing practitioners, many of whom do not have the time or financial support to access training. I am delighted therefore, that the government acknowledges the sector’s ability to ‘grow its own’ early years professionals from within the existing workforce. I am also encouraged by the investment in those practitioners working with children with disabilities and special educational needs”.

“The Transformation Fund is a key component of workforce reform and it is vital that Government provides a clear steer to local authorities on how the money should be spent. Investment must be spread across providers to ensure a level playing field. It is also important to recognise that the Fund is limited and that additional and sustained support is needed to deliver a professional workforce for the 21st century”.

“The publication is an important step on the road to the reform of the children’s workforce, which is long overdue. I am encouraged by the news that the Government has asked the Children’s Workforce Development Council to produce a report on incentives packages offered to staff by 2006. It recognises that this complex issue must be addressed as a matter of urgency to give a career in childcare the status it has long merited. Any reform of career structures and pay and conditions arrangements must be consistent across the sector. Otherwise, the private and voluntary and private sectors will recruit and train staff, only to lose them to the maintained sector where terms are considered better”.

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Andrew Fletcher
Pre-school Learning Alliance
T: 020 7014 9301
Out of hours press calls: 07802 827 678
E: Andrew Fletcher

Notes for Editors:

  1. The Pre-school Learning Alliance links 15,000 pre-schools and 800,000 young children and their families in England. Established in 1961 and registered as an educational charity, the Alliance is involved in more Sure Start projects than any other organisation and operates a number of Neighbourhood Nurseries. For information about the Pre-school Learning Alliance, visit our website: www.pre-school.org.uk
  2. A copy of the Alliance’s response to the Childcare Bill can be accessed at www.pre-school.org.uk. Follow the News and Policy 2005 links
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