12 March 2008 - Daycare Trust is looking forward to Alistair Darling's first budget providing a real step forward in making childcare more affordable. The national childcare campaign wrote to the Chancellor earlier this year asking for radical steps forward in providing high-quality and affordable childcare. Key demands included:
- A big increase in the free nursery entitlement for three and four year olds, to cover 20 hours a week and 48 hours in the year.
- A rise in the Childcare Element of Working Tax Credit, providing up to 100 per cent rebate on the cost of childcare for the poorest working parents.
- More funding for enhancing skills and qualifications in the childcare workforce.
- More and better out-of-school supervised activities and holiday schemes for older children.
Joint-Chief Executive Alison Garnham said: 'Parents across the nation are waiting with bated breath for the Chancellor to take radical steps to cut the burden of childcare costs. But urgent and substantial investment is also needed in transforming our low-pay, low-qualification childcare system into one which truly provides children with a springboard to educational success.'
'As members of the End Child Poverty Campaign, we know that this has a crucial role to play in ending the cycle of poverty that blights the lives of one in three children in our country today.'
Phone Daycare Trust from 3pm onwards on 07834 360870 to arrange an interview or comment from Alison Garnham.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
About Daycare Trust
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.
- Set new standards for the pay of childcare workers, either through national benchmarks or incentives such as the Graduate Leader Fund.
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 07834 360870.
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