Today the IPPR’s
Condition of Britain report was launched, which proposes an
agenda for reforming the state and social policy to enable people
to work together to build a stronger society.
Liz Bayram, PACEY Chief Executive, comments on
the report and IPPR’s proposal for year-around, affordable
childcare places : "PACEY welcomes the IPPR’s bold proposal for
year-round affordable childcare places for all one to four year
olds, so long as this is funded properly and embraces all forms of
childcare - both in home and group settings - so parents can choose
the childcare setting that best suits their family's needs.
Appropriate levels of funding for this proposal are critical to
ensuring registered childcare providers can invest in the qualified
staff that all the evidence shows support better outcomes for
children, especially our most disadvantaged children.
“We applaud the proposal for all staff
working with two-year-olds to hold at least a level 3 child
development qualification. Whilst we also support an increase in
the number of graduates working in early years settings, it is
important to recognise that many front line childcare practitioners
without early years degree qualifications also provide
professional, high quality care for children.
"Childcare and early learning has improved
immensely in the last ten years but we have still to overcome the
challenge of ensuring families not only receive flexible,
affordable childcare, but that children receive a high quality
experience too. That is what makes the biggest difference for
children's life chances. Furthermore childcare for school age
children remains as much a challenge as childcare for the early
years.”
Read the IPPR’s
Condition of Britain report.
Related press
Nursery World - Think tank urges the next Government to
introduce year-round free universal childcare
Children and Young People Now - Leadership trumps
qualifications in ensuring quality childcare, says expert
Day Nurseries - IPPR report calls for more affordable childcare
and a greater qualified workforce
The
New Statesman has published an article about the report,
looking at how the motivations for universal childcare are rooted
in a collective social responsibility.
Read the article here.