President
Dame Gillian Pugh
Dame Gillian Pugh has been President of NCMA since April 2009.
Dame Gillian has been hugely influential in improving understanding
and raising the profile of children’s issues and in shaping the
services on offer to families.
Gillian was awarded the DBE in 2005 for services to
children and families. Her wealth of experience supports NCMA in
promoting the many benefits of home-based childcare for children in
England and Wales so more families can access a childminder or
nanny if they wish.
Dame Gillian retired in 2005 as Chief Executive of Coram Family,
a leading children’s charity which aims to develop and promote best
practice in the care and support of very vulnerable children and
their families.
She has been widely published, including London’s Forgotten
Children: Thomas Coram and the Foundling Hospital (2008) and
Contemporary Issues in the Early Years (5th edition
2009).
Gillian chaired the Advisory Committee for the Cambridge Primary
Review and is chair of the National Children’s Bureau. She is a
member of the Children’s Workforce Development Council, is on the
Board of the Training and Development Agency for Schools, is
visiting Professor at the Institute of Education, and an advisor to
the House of Commons Select Committee for children, schools and
families.
Dame Gillian Pugh said:
"I am honoured to be NCMA's President because I am passionate about
its vision, that every child should reach their full potential.
Over the last 30 years, NCMA has made great progress in
establishing home-based childcare as an equal and valuable
childcare choice for parents. However, a great deal of work still
needs to be done to make sure that policy makers, local authorities
and the media fully understand the many benefits of a home setting
for children and invest in its development appropriately.”