Friday 14 November 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: DAYCARE TRUST PRESS OFFICE, 020 7840 3350, OUT OF HOURS 07736 311 082

London: Sufficiency and beyond

Daycare Trust and Firstcare Consultancy Ltd are delighted to announce they have been commissioned by the Government Office for London (GOL) to assist them in supporting local authorities in London to secure sufficient childcare.

The work will run from November to the end of March 2009. Isabelle Gregory of Firstcare will be managing the project. The work will be delivered by a specialised team of consultants who will work with local authorities, focusing on three key areas:

1. Targeted sufficiency
   The team will work with London’s 33 local authorities to develop strategies and action plans to achieve sufficient childcare for particular groups such as older children, children with additional needs and those who have English as an additional language.

    

2. Free and flexible offer
   All local authorities must provide the free childcare entitlement to 25% of their three and four year olds from September 2009 and to all three and four year olds from September 2010. Our team will help local authorities to develop robust plans for the delivery of the extended, more flexible, free early education entitlement.

    

3. Increasing take-up and improving links
   We will develop strategies to help local authorities increase the take up of formal childcare by low-income families and to improve the links between high quality childcare and other objectives such as reducing child poverty.

Daycare Trust Joint Chief Executive Emma Knights said:

“Securing sufficient childcare is now a statutory duty and we are pleased to be supporting London’s local authorities to deliver high quality childcare for children in London and their families.”

Lucia Partridge, who heads up the Early Years and Childhood Policy Team at Government Office for London said:

“The combined experience and expertise of Daycare trust and Firstcare Consultancy Ltd will provide invaluable support to London’s local authorities in fulfilling their new obligations to ensure there is sufficient childcare for their diverse communities.”

Ends.

NOTES TO EDITORS
Daycare Trust is the national childcare charity, campaigning for quality affordable accessible 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. We recognise that everyone is unique and we value difference in our communities. We listen to all views and are committed to act without prejudice. We oppose all discrimination and promote equality in all we do. Daycare Trust is calling on the government to:

• Meet parents' aspirations for universal childcare services by:
  • expanding free places for two, three and four-year olds to at least 20 hours a week, for 48 weeks in the year and
  • subsidising out of school activities for all 11-14s and for younger children from poorer families, aiming ultimately to make them free.
• Tackle the affordability crisis by giving local authorities the means to develop sustainable services in poorer areas and provide free places for those missing out, including places for disabled children, parents needing out of hours care, Further Education students and parents of under-threes who want to train.
• Raise the bar on childcare quality by expanding the Graduate Leader Fund, developing a new generation of childcare professionals and paying them properly.

Daycare Trust runs an information line (020 7840 3350) on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10am-5pm. Parents can also visit www.daycaretrust.org.uk for information.

Daycare Trust is a member of the Campaign to End Child Poverty, www.ecpc.org.uk.

For further information, contact press office at Daycare Trust on 020 7840 3350, ext 217 (out of hours 0780-4508768).