alliance
NEWS RELEASE
17 October 2005
Alliance launches new scheme to support parents
Early years charity the Pre-school Learning Alliance has joined forces with Bounty to launch an initiative to ensure that parents are kept up-to-date and informed about childcare and early years education. Drawing on the charity's forty-year experience in the childcare sector, footsteps is a free membership scheme offering parents information, advice and support on everything from how to choose childcare and learning through play activities to guidelines on nutrition for children under five.
The Alliance's work is underpinned by the belief that parents are the first and primary educators of their children. The new scheme will support parents to become actively involved in their child's development. It will further complement and develop work already being undertaken by the Alliance, which encourages parents to become more actively involved in their child's early years setting.
footsteps will offer parents regular mailings, supplement magazines with features and articles on parenting and education, alongside an interactive website. Parents will also be supplied with offers, savings and samples for a wide variety of family-friendly products and services, including educational toys and leisure activities. Membership of the Alliance means that the concerns of parents will be heard by government and policy makers.
footsteps is available for all parents, not just for those who use childcare provision run by Alliance members. Parents can register directly online at www.bounty.com/footsteps and anyone registering before 31 October 2005 will be entered into a prize draw to win free Start-rite shoes for their child for a year.
Steve Alexander, Chief Executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance said that:
"The Pre-school Learning Alliance was founded by parents seeking childcare for their young children over forty years ago. footsteps builds on the charity's strong relationships with parents and its ethos of parental involvement in their children's early years. As a source of advice and support the scheme will empower and engage parents, enabling them to make the best choices for their children. This is an exciting opportunity to involve parents and to build understanding between parents and the early years professionals responsible for delivering childcare services."
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Anna Roberts
Pre-school Learning Alliance
T: 020 7697 2504
Out of hours press calls: 07979 531130
E: Anna Roberts
Notes for Editors:
- The Pre-school Learning Alliance links 15,000 pre-schools and 500,000 young children and their families in England. Established in 1961 and registered as an educational charity, the Alliance is the national dimension of the pre-school movement. The charity 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.
- Bounty, the leading young family marketing company, has been supporting mums and health professionals since 1959 by distributing literature and product samples. The company reaches over 95 per cent of new and expectant mothers and is an important information source for young families. Its portfolio includes packs, guides, online information, mailings, photography services and healthcare professional detailings. Bounty's philosophy is based on informed choice and, as such, it aims to provide a balanced, inclusive perspective and to conform to best practice guidelines. Each year, Bounty distributes 3.2 million packs containing over 60 million product samples. Visit www.bounty.com for further details.