pre school

NEWS RELEASE

12 May 2003

Pre-school Learning Alliance Annual conference 2003

The Secretary of State for Education and Skills, Rt Hon Charles Clarke MP will open the largest conference in the early years sector, at the Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre, Westminster, on Thursday 5 June 2003.

The theme of the Pre-school Learning Alliance Annual Conference 2003 will be the charity's two-year campaign changing lives changing life, which features at its core, a ‘Charter for Parents and the Early Years.'

The charter — in the form of a petition — aims to address the current shortage of childcare places in all parts of the country, but also bring about practical changes in the way nursery education and childcare are delivered, to better meet the needs of young children and their families.

The conference is the largest event in the early years sector, with more than one thousand staff, parents, volunteers and Early Years Development Partnership officers converging on central London to hear from Government, to learn more about the latest research and to take part in a wide range of practical seminars.

This year's conference will include:

Research on the difference a pre-school can make to deprived communities which will be presented by Dr Veronica McGivney of the National Institute of Adult and Continuing Education.
Margaret Lochrie, Chief Executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance will address delegates and launch the second phase of changing lives changing life, including an inquiry into children who miss out on childcare because they live in pockets of deprivation across the country.
The launch of Pre-school Playweek 2003 which takes place 7 to 13 June as part of National Sure Start Month. Pre-school Playweek will feature a week of activities across the country including the opening of the charity's first Neighbourhood Nursery.
Also addressing conference will be Tom Bentley, Director of Demos.

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Andrew Fletcher
Pre-school Learning Alliance
T: 020 7833 0991
Out of hours press calls: 07979 531 130
E: Andrew Fletcher

Notes for Editors:

The Pre-school Learning Alliance has 15,000 member pre-schools who look after 500,000 young children and their families in England every year. Registered as an educational charity, the Alliance is the national dimension of the pre-school movement. Its member pre-schools are based in the community and most are managed and run by parents, alongside trained staff.
Pre-school Learning Alliance members receive a regular magazine (Under Five) reflecting issues affecting the early years sector. If you would like to receive a copy of this please call 020 7833 0991
Further information and all press releases are available on the Pre-school Learning Alliance’s website: www.pre-school.org.uk or email pressoffice@pre-school.org.uk