Speaking at the 4Children conference in Westminster last week, NaomiEisenstadt, senior research fellow in the education department at OxfordUniversity, praised the Government for maintaining the free entitlementof 15 hours a week for all threeand four-year-olds and for expandingFamily Nurse Partnerships.
But she warned, 'This notion that you can improve children's outcomeswithout reducing the pressure on families is wrong. The cuts tochildcare benefits are only going to create more pressure on familylife.'
Ms Eisenstadt, who was the first director of the Sure Start Unit and isformer chief advisor of children's services, added, 'I am nervous aboutthe Government's plans to target children's centre services at theneediest. We know that children mixing is a very good thing. Children'scentres should be about welcoming whoever turns up.'
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