Campaigners Want Continued Funding

Childcare providers are calling for the continuation of funding for the Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative after a report has proved its effectiveness. The initiative aims to expand daycare services in the most deprived 20 per cent of areas in England.

An evaluation of the initiative for the Department for Education and Skills found it successfully reached the most disadvantaged groups and got a one in five of its users back into work.

Steve Alexander, chief executive of the Pre-School Learning Alliance, said the evaluation showed that funding for the initiative should continue.