This week's national policy seminar held by 4Children examined the childcare gains and challenges in the five years since the report by the Childcare Commission, which set out demands for investment in and development of the early years sector (see News page 5, 'To the point' page 9). Everyone agreed that much had been achieved - but also that there was a long way to go. Children's minister Beverley Hughes's comments at the seminar provided some interesting hints about future priorities. She spoke about the need to pay particular attention to the quality of interactions between children and carers, something which rarely seems to be mentioned in Government pronouncements. And in speaking of the need to raise quality and increase affordability, Ms Hughes reflected what seems to be a growing acceptance in Government that supply-side subsidies, as being piloted in the London affordability scheme, will be necessary.
This week's national policy seminar held by 4Children examined the childcare gains and challenges in the five years since the report by the Childcare Commission, which set out demands for investment in and development of the early years sector (see News page 5, 'To the point' page 9).
Everyone agreed that much had been achieved - but also that there was a long way to go. Children's minister Beverley Hughes's comments at the seminar provided some interesting hints about future priorities. She spoke about the need to pay particular attention to the quality of interactions between children and carers, something which rarely seems to be mentioned in Government pronouncements. And in speaking of the need to raise quality and increase affordability, Ms Hughes reflected what seems to be a growing acceptance in Government that supply-side subsidies, as being piloted in the London affordability scheme, will be necessary.
The implementation of the ten-year strategy is at a crucial stage. Those in Government should take note of the views of Professor Chris Pascal in our Special Report this week (pages 10-11), where she warns that all the fine visions of world-class, universal, integrated services for children could come to nothing as proposals are watered down to offer what could be a second-class service.
