NCMA response to CSR
Quality childcare and early years support remain vital, says
NCMA.
In response to the Government’s Comprehensive
Spending Review announced today, Liz Bayram, Joint Chief Executive
of NCMA, said:
"Ensuring all families have access to
flexible, affordable, quality childcare and early learning has been
proven to help our youngest children reach their full potential, to
ensure school age children are safely cared for out of school and
that their parents are can remain in or take up work. We would urge
the Department for Education to focus on this as they develop their
spending priorities in light of their CSR settlement.
"With local authority budgets reducing, the
ring-fencing of local authority grants ending and a strong focus on
investment in schools, we are concerned that the progress made to
date in childcare and early years services is at risk. Market
forces alone will not sustain the range of quality provision,
including registered childminding, that has been developed. Whilst
all areas of public funding must be carefully considered during
these difficult times, we hope government recognises that continued
investment in universal quality childcare and early years support
remains vital for all families, including the most vulnerable.
"We look forward to discussing this with the
Department for Education as they develop their plans."
Page last updated:
12/21/2010