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Leading Childcare Charities Come Together in Support of Universal Quality Childcare

NEWS RELEASE

6 September 2005

Leading Childcare Charities Come Together in Support of Universal Quality Childcare

The UK's leading childcare charities are holding public meetings at the forthcoming party conferences to gather support from the three major political parties for their shared goal of making quality, universal childcare a reality for all families.

Beverley Hughes MP — Children's Minister, Rt Hon Theresa May MP — Conservative Shadow Secretary of State for the Family and Edward Davey MP — Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Skills, 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.

Together the charities represent 350,000 childcare workers across the UK who are collectively responsible for the care of nearly one and a half million children. The childcare charities have set themselves the goal of turning the vision of universal childcare into reality through partnership cooperation and working closely with all the political parties. They will be working in partnership to campaign for:

These will be the main issues debated at the fringe events under the banner of ‘The Childcare Coalition, Universal Childcare: from vision to reality'.

Beverley Hughes MP, Children's Minister will be speaking on 26 September and comments:

"The Government has embarked on nothing short of a revolution in provision for the youngest children and childcare for parents. The challenge is to ensure not only universal access but also services of the highest quality. Only in that way will we succeed in our most important objectives: maximising potential outcomes for all children and closing the gap between the most disadvantaged and the rest."

Rt Hon Theresa May MP, Shadow Secretary of State for the Family will be speaking on 3 October and states:

"Childcare is a crucial issue for many families throughout the country. Parents often find it difficult to arrange care, which meets their family's needs. It is important that they have choices about how they balance their work and family responsibilities, and the Conservative Party wants to give families the freedom to make those choices for themselves."

Edward Davey MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Skills will be speaking on 21 September and says:

"Liberal Democrats believe the need for more high quality and more affordable childcare is vital and will be working with the childcare charities on ideas to make this happen."

Mary Reilly, Chair at London Development Agency adds:

"We have a unique opportunity to create a fundamental change in the support offered to children and families. By 2008, all local authorities will have a new duty to secure sufficient childcare provision in their area. But how will funders, local authorities, childcare providers and parents work together? This question will be debated at the upcoming fringe meetings, from which we hope to make great steps forward in turning the vision of universal childcare into reality."

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Julie Bower
Pre-school Learning Alliance
T: 01484 726 692
Out of hours press calls: 07718 803 652
E: Julie Bower

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 Julie Bower, Press Officer on T:01484 726 692 M:07718 803 652 or email julie.bower@ndna.org.uk

The fringe meetings will take place on:

Liberal Democrat: Wed 21 September at 8pm, The Imperial Hotel, Blackpool Speakers include Edward Davey MP, Hannah Lownsbrough — DEMOS, Beatrix Campbell — Prof. Gender Studies University of Newcastle and journalist, and a representative from the LDA

Labour: Mon 26 September at 12.30pm, The Metropol Hotel, Brighton Speakers include Beverley Hughes MP, Kate Stanley — IPPR, Yvonne Roberts — The Guardian, and a representative from the LDA

Conservative: Mon 3 October at 10am, Wintergardens Hotel, Blackpool Speakers include Rt Hon Theresa May MP, Margaret Lochrie — Capacity, Alex Frean — The Times, and Eric Ollerenshaw OBE, LDA Board Member.

About the participating organisations

London Development Agency (LDA) The Mayor launched the Final London Childcare Strategy in November 2003. The main delivery agent for the Strategy is the LDA, which is also the lead Regional Development Agency for childcare in the country. The LDA has already committed over £3 million in investment for childcare in 2003 to 2005. 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 a 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. www.daycaretrust.org.uk

National Childminding Association (NCMA), a membership organisation and national charity, promotes quality home-based childcare for the benefit of children, families and communities. It already speaks on behalf of the 75,000 registered childminders in England and Wales and, now with a new membership package for nannies and other home-based childcarers, increasingly for home-based childcare in England and Wales. 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 links and supports 15,000 early years settings and 500,000 young children and their families in England. Established in 1961 and registered as an educational charity, the Alliance is involved in a number of Sure Start programmes and Neighbourhood Nurseries across the country. www.pre-school.org.uk

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