Childcare tied to regeneration policy

The Daycare Trust and the British Urban Regeneration Association jointly staged the conference, 'Starting Early: Building Quality Childcare into Regeneration', and outlined their vision in a policy statement. Key recommendations include calling for central Government to simplify, streamline and integrate initiatives and grant schemes that support childcare and provide long-term funding to increase sustainability, as well as giving incentives to childcare providers to offer services that meet a range of parents' needs, such as care for children with special needs and during hours outside the typical working day.

It also called for regional development agencies to incorporate childcare facilities into the early stages of regeneration schemes. Local authorities should encourage joint working between regeneration and early years departments. JobCentre Plus should help parents by identifying and reporting gaps in childcare and directly fund providers as an incentive to offering flexible provision that meets employers' needs and allows parents to attend interviews, work experience and training.