£4bn Announced To Boost English Children’s Services

Sure Start children’s centres, early years education and childcare in England have been given a £4bn cash injection from the Government. The money, which will help the Government meet its pledge for a children’s centre in every community by 2010, includes £68m earmarked for the start-up costs of extended schools.

{mosimage}The money will also go towards providing extra outreach workers to visit some of the most disadvantaged families, training and support for early years workers and ensuring each local authority area has sufficient childcare places. It will also enable every nursery and children’s centre to employ a graduate to lead on children’s learning and development. The Government has pledged to spend £175m of the grant on supporting private, voluntary and independent sector providers.

“The announcement of such a substantial amount indicates the Government is listening to providers’ concerns,” said Steve Alexander, chief executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance. However, he also sounded a note of caution: “We believe the priority now is not the creation of new provision, but safeguarding and sustaining existing important services that are reaching the most disadvantaged families – services that are struggling under existing levels of subsidy.”

The National Childminding Association welcomed the money for additional outreach workers, as well as extra training provision. “This community focus can be particularly beneficial when trying to reach families who may find it difficult to access centre-based childcare and support services,” said director of communications Andrew Fletcher.