partners
NEWS RELEASE
30 June 2005
Partners welcome success of National Sure Start Month 2005
As the Secretary of State for Education Ruth Kelly celebrates the end of National Sure Start Month at visit to a Sure Start Children's Centre in Darlington, the voluntary sector partners behind the Month announce how delighted they are with its achievements. Sponsored by the Sure Start Unit, National Sure Start Month is run by a partnership of six charities — representing a wide cross-section of early years service users and expertise in the sector.
Steve Alexander Chief Executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance, who led the partners this year, said:
"Once again National Sure Start Month has given us the opportunity to reach hundreds of thousands of parents and draw attention to the fantastic work carried out by childcare professionals and the importance of the early years to everyone."
In fact, building on National Sure Start Month as the annual opportunity to focus on the importance of early years in our lives, the partners asked MPs, influential figures in the early years arena and a couple of celebrities to tell us some thing about their early years experiences and how they affected their later lives.
With contributions from comedian Jo Brand, Children's Minister Maria Eagle, Shadow Minister for Children Tim Loughton (who gave us a poem about his first day at playschool) and senior members of the childcare charities involved in the Month, the recollections make interesting reading! Members of the public are now being invited to add their own memories and thoughts.
Jo Brand, Comedian and author said:
"I think the care and education I received up to the age of four was hugely important particularly now I am a mother and have a much firmer idea of how much small children appreciate security. I have two brothers and we were all at home with my mum who didn't work until I was ten years old. There were always lots of books, plenty of music. This meant home always felt like a safe place. My two grandmas looked after us when my mum needed to go out and do her trampolining circus act. (Only kidding)."
You can see all contributions and some great images from the 2005 celebrations at: www.nationalsurestartmonth.com.
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Sarah Pearson
Pre-school Learning Alliance
T: 020 7014 9321
Out of hours press calls: 07979 531 130
E: Sarah Pearson
Notes for Editors:
National Sure Start Month 2005 is the fourth in a series of annual events providing an opportunity for Sure Start Users and Early Years' practitioners around the country to celebrate the achievements of the past year. The event is sponsored by the Sure Start Unit, and run by a partnership of six charities — representing a wide cross-section of early-years service users and expertise in the sector.
Sure Start is the Government's programme to deliver the best start in life for every child by bringing together early education, childcare, health and family support. Sure Start aims to increase the availability of childcare for all children, improve the health and emotional development of young children and support parents as parents as well as in their aspirations towards employment. To achieve these goals Sure Start encourages the development of services specifically in disadvantaged areas as well as rolling out the principles driving the Sure Start approach to all services for children and parents.
Pre-School Learning Alliance (lead partner) represents and supports 15,000 community pre-schools in England. It aims to help children to succeed; create the childcare which families need and build learning communities.
Contact Sarah Pearson on 020 7014 9321
4Children is a leading national childcare charity dedicated to creating opportunities and building futures for children and families, especially in the out of school childcare sector.
Contact PR team on 020 7512 2112
Daycare Trust is a leading national childcare charity, campaigning for quality, accessible, affordable childcare for all and raising the voices of children, parents and carers. We advise parents and carers, providers, employers, trade unions and policymakers on childcare issues.
Contact Beth Reid on 020 7840 3350
National Childminding Association is a membership organisation and national charity, promoting quality home-based childcare for the benefit of children, families and communities.
Contact Kim Evans on 020 8290 8966
National Day Nurseries Association is the only national membership association representing day nurseries in the UK. The charity is dedicated to the provision, support and promotion of high quality care and education for all children in the early years.
Contact Joanne Taylor on 0870 774 4244
National Family and Parenting Institute (NFPI) is a major charity working to support parents in bringing up their children, to promote the well-being of families and make society more family friendly.
Contact Louise Laing on 020 7424 3460