They have also backed the Government's commitment to create children's centres in every community, increase parental leave and undertake radical workforce reform. But question marks remain over under-threes provision and the real purpose of the 125m-a-year Transformation Fund.
In its response to the consultation, which closed on 24 February, the Daycare Trust said there was 'no mention of any follow-up to the pilot scheme extending part-time early education places to two-year-olds in 500 areas', and provision for this age group was crucial.
The Trust estimated the Government's aim to create a children's centre in every community - 3,500 across England - would mean one centre per 800 children under five and doubted this would be enough to help poorer families living in more affluent areas. 'To ensure a universal provision of early education and care, the total number of children's centres should be left open for review and extending this beyond 3,500 could be part of a second stage of the strategy beyond 2010,' it argued.
Rosemary Murphy, chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association, urged the Government to introduce more supply-side funding to providers with a single funding stream, 'not just for convenience, but because we continually talk about the need to integrate early education and childcare'.
She also expressed concern at the 'inherent dependence on regulation and inspection in the UK', compared with the early years sector in some countries where the emphasis is more on staff development and qualifications as guarantors of quality. Mrs Murphy said the Transformation Fund, to improve quality and sustainability, should be accessible to both private and voluntary providers.
