NCMA at Liberal Democrat Conference
NCMA joined with the major childcare charities again this year
as the Childcare Forum
hosted a fringe event on Sunday 19 September at the Liberal
Democrat Party Conference.
The Childcare Forum is comprised of
the five leading childcare charities: 4Children, Daycare Trust,
National Day Nurseries Association, National Childminding
Association and the Pre-school Learning Alliance.
The event helps to
ensure that childcare issues remain high on the
agenda during the party political debates. The
event Childcare:
What’s Next for Families and the Early Years? was chaired by Alison Garnham, Chief
Executive of Daycare Trust.
Speakers included Dr
Stephanie Petrie from Liverpool
University, Ryan
Shorthouse from
the Social Market Foundation and Imran Hussain from Child Poverty Action
Group.
The
panel discussed a
range of issues including the free entitlement, a lack of
funding for childcare training and services in general, and the impact high quality childcare
can have on alleviating child poverty.
A good turnout ensured a lively debate and further events will
be held at the Conservative Party and Labour Party
Conferences. The Childcare Forum's
policy briefing paper is available here.
Last updated:
10/20/2010