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parental

NEWS RELEASE

5 June 2003

Parental involvement is the key to successful early years education says the Pre-school Learning Alliance

A new vision for the future of childcare and the early years in which parents have much more involvement will be set out today at the National Conference of the Pre-school Learning Alliance. Charles Clarke, Secretary of State for Education and Skills, will set out why the Government's commitment to early education, childcare and family support is essential to ensure all children get a sure start in life.

Charles Clarke's speech to the conference in National Sure Start month at the QEII Conference centre in London will be attended by 1,000 pre-school workers and parents.

Research published today by BMRB shows that 90% of parents polled want more involvement in their children's early years education. This follows earlier research, in May 2002, which showed that 86% of parents believe that encouraging parental involvement in early years education and care can help to prevent anti-social behaviour such as drug taking and crime in later years.

The Pre-school Learning Alliance, the largest voluntary sector provider of pre-school education and childcare, announced that:

• It had successfully created 12,000 new childcare places in 2003
• It plans to establish an inquiry into child poverty outside Sure Start areas to help the 60% of children who aren't covered by area-based initiatives. Poorer families qualifying for tax credits get help with childcare but unemployed parents living outside the most disadvantaged areas may get no help at all with the costs of childcare.
• The relaunch of the Pre-school Child Appeal to raise money to allow for more subsidised early years and childcare places for children with parents on low incomes to be provided
• 50 EYDCPs have signed up to the charity's Charter and the Charter principles (see below) are to be piloted by Barnsley and Lincolnshire EYDCP.

The Charter for Parents and the Early Years, launched as part of the charity's changing lives changing life campaign, calls for:

• a childcare place for every child who needs one
• continuity of care for children
• full consultation with and involvement of parents
• drop-in and advice services for parents.

The charter 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 next stage of the campaign will be launched at the conference and highlights the benefits of parental involvement to children and for themselves by offering access to basic skills courses and family learning.

Research on the difference a pre-school can make to deprived communities, another aspect of the campaign, will be presented at the conference by Dr Veronica McGivney of the National Institute of Adult and Continuing Education. The study will reveal that pre-schools are much more than just nurseries or playgroups: they are a vital family and community resource providing parents and careers with social contacts, practical and emotional support, education, training and employment opportunities and valuable information, help and advice on parenting, education, health, social security and housing matters.

Charles Clarke, Secretary of State for Education and Skills said:

"Having an impact on the early years of a child's life can really make a difference. Babies and young children learn more and learn faster than at any other time in their lives and it is important that we provide the services they need to give them the best start possible."

"Sure Start, which brings together childcare, early education and family support has already achieved a lot. My ambition is to make sure the Sure Start model extends to every part of the country working with all providers across the maintained, private and voluntary sectors"

"Parental involvement is at the heart of our work to support families. As well as encouraging parents to become more involved in their children's learning and development, Sure Start brings together a wealth of family support structures."

Margaret Lochrie, Chief Executive, said:

"The Government's support for early years and childcare has achieved a great deal that should be celebrated. But we now need to develop a vision for the next stage. There is huge untapped potential in the voluntary sector to offer so much more to families and local communities. Huge strides have been made in Sure Start areas but we now need to develop an approach that can help children in poverty who live outside these areas."

"Beyond this, we need to develop a new approach to the early years in which parental involvement is built into the system as an integral part of ensuring that family learning, early learning and childcare are mutually supporting. Parental involvement in education leads to better results for children in the early years and throughout school. We have neglected parental involvement for too long."

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